Portmarnock Links staff clean up in TaylorMade Winter Series
Conor Russell, Head Professional, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
Local knowledge proved key as three members of the Portmarnock Links staff beat 60 kph gusts to feature in the prizes for the first time at the TaylorMade Winter Series.
Head professional Conor Russell won the gross, carding a three-over 74 to top the 60-strong field by one stroke from assistant professional Brendan Walton as Golf Sales Executive Niall Carberry won the third nett with a 73 off five.
Sweet-swinging Russell went out in level par as he followed bogeys at the second and fourth with birdies at the fifth (a three-wood to 10 feet setting up the lone birdie of the day there) and the sixth.
He then came home in three-over as he followed a birdie at the 11th with a double-bogey at the 12th and bogeys at the 13th and 14th.
Links specialist Walton had matching nines of two-over-par for his 75, picking up birdies at the sixth, 13th and 16th to win the second gross on a countback from Palmerstown Stud's Ross McCormack.
A regular prize winner in the Winter Series, McCormack birdied the eighth and 13th before making a birdie with his second ball at the 18th for the last of his six bogeys.
In the nett, Dungannon's Jude Kane carded a 69 off six to win by three strokes from Portstewart's Jack Kane. Jude was out in five-over, but he stormed home in one-under mixing birdies at the 11th, 13th and 18th hole with bogeys at the 10th and 15th.
Carbery was also smiling as he got into the prizes for the first time, making two birdies in a nett 73 off five.
There will be five Taylor Made Winter Series events throughout the month of March.
Dubbed the SIM Sprint, players will count their four best scores in the race for three overall prizes in both the nett and gross categories. There will also be weekly prizes as usual.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71; CSS 73)
Nett
Jude Kane (6) Dungannon 69
Jack Kane (5) Portstewart 72
Niall Carbery (5) Portmarnock Links 73
Gross
Conor Russell (Pro) Portmarnock Links 74
Brendan Walton (Pro) Portmarnock Links 75
Ross McCormack (+2) Palmerstown Stud 75