Irish Scratch Series: Dylan blows hot in the wind at Seapoint
Dylan Keating (Seapoint) driving at the 18th tee on his way to a 1 under par 71 during the Flogas sponsored Irish Scratch Series at Seapoint Golf Club today (29/06/2020). Picture by Pat Cashman
Local teenager Dylan Keating outshone star-studded field that included LPGA Tour star Leona Maguire to win the inaugural Irish Scratch Series outing on home turf at Seapoint Golf Links.
The Irish Boys international (18) overcame a westerly wind gusting over 30 mph to card a one-under 71 and win the top gross prize by a shot from touring professionals Jonathan Yates and Paul McBride.
The Flogas-sponsored event is the first in a series of ten organised by Keating’s parents, Seapoint members Valerie and Gary, designed to give elite amateurs and professionals both male and female their first taste of competition after the COVID-19 lockdown.
LPGA Tour star Maguire, who is scheduled to return to the US circuit next month, carded a one-over 73 to finish just a shot outside the gross prizes alongside fellow professionals Conor O’Rourke and Conor Purcell.
But it was Keating, whose uncle is former Boyzone star Ronan Keating, who used all his local knowledge to claim the €500 voucher awarded to the winner with Yates pocketing €350 in cash and McBride €250.
“I’ll have to get my parents to organise an entire calendar of events for me,” joked Dylan, who won the Irish U16 title in 2018 and followed up last year by taking the Munster Boys and Ulster U16 titles as well as the Regional Qualifier for The Open at Baltray.
“It’s great to have something to play in after month with no golf because of the coronavirus and there was a great field here today even though it was a three-club wind, and it was really tough, it was playable at the same time.
“I don’t think I’ve ever hit as much club into some of the holes as I did today. It was a three-club wind on most holes and it was blowing a steady 30 mph.
A plus-three handicapper, Keating was three over par after making three bogeys in a row from the second.
But he reeled off birdies at the seventh and ninth to turn in one-over, then birdied the 11th to get back to level and realised he had a chance of a good score with a solid finish.
He went on to make a great par from a fairway bunker at the 12th, muscling a 185-yard seven-iron onto the green.
After parring the tough 13th, he then picked up further birdies at the 14th and 15th to cruise to two-under, made a 10 footer to salvage a brilliant par at the 16th but then three-putted the downwind 17th from the front edge, missing a two-footer.
Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey, the world No 17, fired a four-over 76 alongside former Curtis Cup and Ireland team-mate Leona Maguire as she prepares to return to Arizona State University for a fifth season.
Seapoint five-handicapper David Leahy won the best nett (and a €150 voucher) with a 73 while Mike Kelly’s 75 off two was good enough for the second nett and a €100 voucher.
Irish Scratch Series, sponsored by Flogas, Seapoint Golf Links (Par 72)
Gross: 1, Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 71; 2, Jonathan Yates (Pro) 72; 3, Paul McBride (Pro) 72.
Nett: 1, David Leahy (5) 73; 2, Mike Kelly (2) 75.
Next outing: Seapoint, July 6, call 041 9881066 for timesheet.