Sparkling Cullen claims Christmas joy at Portmarnock Links

Gary Cullen prepares to let rip

Shooting a stunning 62 at the weekend proved to be a good omen as Gary Cullen took his handicap to plus four with yet another win in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.

After making nine birdies and nine pars in a sensational, nine-under round at The Links on Sunday, the former Irish Amateur Open champion was amongst the prize winners yet again as 40 players teed it up in the weekly winter outing for professionals and low amateurs on Tuesday.

Out in one-over par, Cullen took his third class win and his fourth prize of the season as he birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th and the 18th to card a two-under 69 and win the gross by three strokes from Dun Laoghaire professional Richard O'Donovan.

Meath professional Brian Casey continued his run of fine form to win the nett with a 70, going out in one-over before coming home in two under thanks to eight pars and a lone eagle three at the 13th.

He edged out The Links' AJ McCabe, who came back from a bogey-bogey start to card a 71 off one.

After getting back to level with birdies at the sixth and eighth, McCabe birdied the 11th to move into the red before running up a double-bogey at the treacherous, par-three 17th.

He wasn't the only player left wondering what might have been.

Former East of Ireland champion O'Donovan made an eagle, four birdies, one double bogey and five bogeys in his rollercoaster, one-over 72 to finish second to Cullen in the gross.

Each player received a complimentary sleeve of TaylorMade TP5X golf balls, and many of them will be back on January 1 for the first TaylorMade Winter Series outing of the New Year.

TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 75 CSS 74)

Nett

1, Brian Casey (Pro) Unattached 70

2, AJ McCabe (1) The Links Portmarnock GC 71

Gross

1, Gary Cullen (+3) The Links Portmarnock GC 69

2, Richard O’Donovan (Pro) Dun Laoghaire GC 72