McBride and Kiernan shine in 60 kmph gusts at Portmarnock Links
The Island’s Paul McBride in action at the 2017 Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club. Picture: USGA/Chris Keane
Challenge Tour professional Paul McBride and Forrest Little's Allan Kiernan claimed the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
With poor weather forecast, just 78 players took the links, and they were grateful to play off the white tees in 60 kph westerly gusts.
McBride shot a two-under 69 to win the nett after a countback, denying Newlands' nine-handicapper Alex Nicoara as Portmarnock Links' Eamonn Keane claimed third with a 71 off two.
Scratch man Kiernan won the gross with a two-over 73, edging out professionals Steven Quinlan and Brendan Walton after a countback.
McBride birdied the third and fifth, three-putted the sixth but then birdied the eighth to turn in two-under.
After bogeys at the 10th and 11th, the former Walker Cup player birdied the 13th and 15th for an excellent 69.
Nine-handicapper Nicoara was out in an excellent, one-over gross and home in six-over for one of the scores of the day as local man Keane made three bogeys and a birdie in his nett 71.
In the gross, Kiernan turned in one-over following a lone bogey at the seventh before battling home in one-over as he mixed bogeys at the 12th, 14th and 18th with a rare birdie two at the 17th.
He won the gross on a countback from Quinlan, who had three birdies (4th, 14th and 16th) and five bogeys (6th, 9th 10th, 11th and 17th) in his 73.
Portmarnock Links professional Walton also shot 73 to finish in the prizes for the third time this season.
Out in level par as he followed a birdie at the sixth with a bogey at the seventh, he double-bogeyed the 10th after taking two to escape from a bunker but bounced back with a birdie at the 11th.
After three-putting the par-five 13th for a six, he bounced back again with a birdie at the 15th, then three-putted the 16th before getting up and down for pars on the last two holes.
The Dubliner holed a 30 footer for his three at the 17th and with the pin back left at the last, he got up and down from the front left bunker, holing a seven-footer to deny a host of 74s third place.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 73, CSS 76)
12 November
Nett:
Paul McBride (Pro) The Island GC 69
Alex Nicoara (9) Newlands GC 69
Eamonn Keane (2) Portmarnock Links 71
Gross:
Allan Kiernan (0) Forrest Little GC 73
Steven Quinlan (Pro) SQ Golf 73
Brendan Walton (Pro) Portmarnock Links 73
