Walker and Cullen tough it out at Portmarnock Links

Leslie Walker (Dundalk). Photo: PGA in Ireland, Patrick Bolger/Getty Images

Dundalk professional Leslie Walker and Portmarnock Links’ Gary Cullen weathered horrific conditions to win the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Links.

While the timesheet was full, just 30 players braved the high winds and heavy rain showers with Walker taking the nett with a six-over 77 and Cullen the gross with a 78.

Walker could have been forgiven for believing he was making up the numbers when he went to the turn in six-over.

After an opening bogey, he double bogeyed the second and fourth and followed a lone birdie at the sixth with further dropped shots at the eighth and ninth. He clicked into gear on the back nine, however, and came home in level par for the best score of the day.

After a bogey at the 10th, he birdied the 14th, bogeyed the 15th but then got up and down for par at the 17th after coming up short with a five wood before finishing with a birdie three.

It was an equally trying but rewarding round for former Irish Amateur Open champion Cullen.

He had just one birdie on the front nine — a two at the third. But after making bogeys on the first, fourth, fifth and ninth, he battled him in four-over par for his 78.

He sandwiched a bogey at the 11th  between double bogeys at the 10th and 12th and while he would also drop a shot at the 15th, birdies at the 14th and 18th holes left the plus-three handicapper among the prize-winners once again.

TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71)

SSS 75; CSS 76 (Reductions only)

Nett:

Leslie Walker (Pro) Dundalk GC 77

Gross:

Gary Cullen (+3) Portmarnock Links 78