Yates and Carter make hay at Portmarnock Links
Jonathan Yates
Alps Tour professional Jonathan Yates took advantage of the best of the weather to card a four-under 67 and claim the best gross in the TaylorMades Summer Series at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
The Naas golfer followed last week's bogey-free 70 with another superb round, dropping his only shot of the day at the first before picking up birdies at the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and 10th.
He won the best gross by two strokes from fellow Naas man Jamie Butler, who carded a 69 off one, and by three from the in-form Max Kennedy from Royal Dublin.
A field of 90 took to the links in testing conditions though the cleared for the later starters, who captured most of the prizes.
Elm Park's Charlie Denvir played through the worst of the weather, but his level par 71 was not enough to finish among the prize-winners.
Jamie Butler in action for winners Naas CBS in the Leinster Inter Schools League Matchplay final last year Photo: Ronan Quinlan www.cashmanphotography.com
Butler went out in level par as he followed a bogey at the par-five fourth with a birdie on the downwind sixth, then came home in 33.
While he bogeyed the 18th, he made a birdie at the 16th to go with two's at the 11th and 17th in an excellent round of 69.
Kennedy, who is now playing off plus three, followed last week's win with another excellent performance, mixing birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth with bogeys at the third and seventh.
In the nett, Shaun Carter was inspired alongside fellow Royal Dublin man Kennedy, firing a gross 67 off plus-one to take the best nett with a 68.
Carter went out in one-under 35 before picking up birdies at the 10th, 13th and 17th to get one over on his young rival.
He won the nett by a shot from Ardee's Jamie Kelly, who shot an excellent 73 gross, going out in a flawless one-under 35.
He made a costly double-bogey on the long, par-five 13th and a bogey at the 15th for his nett 69 as Loughrea's Evan O'Doherty took the third nett with a 70.
Playing off five, O'Doherty was a model of consistency as he had matching nines of two-over-par in an excellent round.
TaylorMade Summer Series, Portmarnock Links (Par 71; CSS 75, Gents; CSS 73, Ladies)
Gross
Jonathan Yates (Pro) Naas 67
Jamie Butler (1) Naas 69
Max Kennedy (+3) Royal Dublin 70
Nett
Shaun Carter (+1) Royal Dublin 68
Jamie Kelly (4) Ardee 69
Evan O'Doherty (5) Loughrea 70
