Headfort duo claim top spots in Killeen Castle Nicklaus Series
Killeen Castle
Brian Casey claimed his fourth successive win the Nicklaus Series at Killeen Castle on Friday.
The PGA Europro Tour regular shot a controlled, two-under par 70 at the Co Meath venue as fellow Headfort golfer Joe Dillon claimed the leading nett prize with the same score.
"I had some close calls for birdies, but also some good saves for pars today, so all in all the score reflected fairly on my performance," Casey said.
"With some of the names on the sheet today and with more tee boxes moved back on some of the holes, I felt I needed to break 70 to have any chance of winning outright.”
Despite starting with a bogey, Casey birdied the par-four second and the 443-yard fifth hole after stitching his approach before hitting the par-five seventh in two to set up a two-putt birdie.
He then made six pars in a row which included a great recovery from the water hazard on 12th before adding his fourth birdie of the round on the par-five 15th hole to get to three-under for the day.
While he failed to get up and down for pars at the 16th and 17th, he reduced the signature 18th to a drive, a wedge and a 15-foot putt to post an excellent 70.
"As always the course was in superb condition,” Casey added. “I enjoyed some of the tricky pin placements along with some back tees which made the challenge greater."
Dillon put in a similarly controlled display with some very impressive ball striking on his way to his 70.
After starting with two regulation pars, he hit a 104-yard wedge close at the third and made a 15 footer at the fourth to move quickly to two-under.
The Headfort based professional made an uncharacteristic bogey on the par-four fifth and then pencilled in a frustrating par at the long seventh, where he had a 15 footer for eagle but three-putted.
He also missed a three-footer for birdie at the index-two ninth but made amends at the 10th, flighting a 131-yard approach to five feet before knocking in the putt.
He was back one-under again when he bogeyed the 11th but used his power to hit the 12th in two and set up a two-putt birdie before hitting two drivers to the 564-yard 15th, setting up another two-putt birdie.
He struggled on the challenging par three's on the back nine, however, adding bogeys at the 14th and 16th before following a birdie from six feet at the 17th with a closing par.
"The course set up was well thought out," Dillon said. "The par-fives were a mix of generous to demanding off the tees and the par-threes were right up there with the best four par-threes I’d play all year - and I’m not just saying that because I missed all four greens!
"I always love playing at Killeen Castle - it is always a great set up and requires every shot in your bag."
Nicklaus Series, Killeen Castle (Par 70) December 28
Nett
1, Joe Dillon (Pro) 38 pts (Headfort)
2, Conor Jameson (3) 36 pts (Wicklow)
3, Conor O’Rourke (Pro) 35 pts (Naas)
Gross
1, Brian Casey (Pro) 38 pts (Unattached)
2, Desmond Morgan (+2) 37 pts (Carton House)
3, Pat McGilloway Jnr (3) 35 pts (Hermitage)
