TaylorMade Winter Series: Grehan blitzes field with brilliant 67

Stuart Grehan during his Mullingar Scratch Trophy win in 2017. Picture: Pat Cashman

Tullamore's Stuart Grehan survived arctic conditions to fire a four-under 67 and leave the rest for dead in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.

With a freezing, northerly wind testing the 60-strong field — the competition scratch score was 77 — the former amateur international beat the next best score by five strokes.

An Eisenhower Trophy bronze medallist with Ireland in Mexico in 2016, Grehan (26) birdied the first and parred his way to the turn before adding birdies at the 10th, 11th and 13th in a brilliant, bogey-free effort.

He won the nett prize by five strokes from Black Bush professional Stephen McCarthy, who had three birdies and four bogeys in a 72 with SQ Golf's Steven Quinlan third after a 73.

Headfort professional Philip Duff had three birdies and four bogeys in a one-over 72 to win the gross as Castle's plus-three handicapper Robert Moran and Carton House's Des Morgan finished second and third respectively with 73's.

TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 74, CSS 77)

Nett

1, Stuart Grehan (Pro) Unattached 67

2, Stephen McCarthy (Pro) Black Bush GC 72

3, Steven Quinlan(Pro) SQ Golf 73

Gross

1, Philip Duff (Pro) Headfort GC 72

2, Robert Moran (+3) Castle GC 73

3, Des Morgan (+2) Carton House 73