Dawson and Moynihan a class apart at Portmarnock Links
Robin Dawson
European Tour players Gavin Moynihan and Robin Dawson took the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series outing at Portmarnock Links.
After some early frost delayed proceedings, 85 players took to the links in windless conditions where Moynihan and Dawson shot three-under 68s to win the nett and gross prizes respectively.
Moynihan made back to back birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn in two-under and after following a birdie at the 13th with a three-putt bogey at the 15th, he birdied the 16th to win the nett by a shot from Laytown and Bettystown’s Daniel Mulligan, who shot 69 off two, finishing with birdies at the 16th and 18th.
Mulligan took the second nett after a countback from fellow Portmarnock Links’ member Lloyd Rooney, who recorded his best round on the links off six.
Out in one-over-par as he sandwiched a birdie at the sixth between bogeys at the fifth and ninth, Rooney came home in three-over as he bogeyed the 10th, 12th, 13th and 17th but managed an excellent birdie on the 14th where the pin was tucked away.
Dawson birdied the fourth, sixth and seventh to turn in three-under and while he bogeyed the par-five 13th, he birdied the 18th to win the best gross by two shots from Naas’ Conor O’Rourke.
The former St Andrews Links Trophy winner turned in two-under-par thanks to birdies at the fourth and ninth before mixing bogeys at the 10th, 13th and 15th with birdies at the 11th and 18th for an excellent 70.
Belfast professional Damian Mooney birdied all the par-fives as he also shot 70 to win the third gross.
He was out in three-under-par thanks to birdies on the fourth, sixth and ninth holes but while he birdied the 13th, he dropped shots at the 12th, 16th and 17th.
Each player received a complimentary sleeve of TaylorMade TP5’s from the series sponsors.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 75, CSS 75)
Nett:
Gavin Moynihan (Pro) Cars Ireland 68;
Daniel Mulligan (2) Portmarnock Links 69;
Lloyd Rooney (6) Portmarnock Links 69.
Gross:
Robin Dawson (Pro) Portmarnock Links 68;
Conor O’Rourke (Pro) Naas) 70;
Damian Mooney (Pro) DM Golf 70.
