Professional Paul McBride and West of Ireland champion Hugh Foley took advantage of balmy conditions and fired five-under 66s in very different ways to take the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.

Now playing off plus-5.4, Royal Dublin star Foley was inspired on the greens and made nine birdies in a five-under round that also featured two bogeys and a double-bogey as McBride went bogey-free to win the nett.

Foley, who also won the AIG Irish Close last year, turned in five-under-par, erasing a bogey at the third with birdies at the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth. 

He then birdied the 10th and 13th to get to seven-under-par for his round, bogeyed the short 14th but bounced back with a birdie on the 15th to get back to seven-under.

A double-bogey on the 16th brought him back down to earth before he finished with two pars.

Home from the US after coming up short at the Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School two weeks ago, McBride birdied the par-five fourth and sixth going out, then birdied the 13th, 14th and 17th for his bogey-free 66.

He won the nett by two shots from The K Club’s Conor O’Rourke, who dropped just one shot in a 68, and by two from Portsalon’s Paddy McGettigan, whose early birdies at the third and fourth proved crucial as he shot 70 off 10,

In the gross, Foley was the clear winner by three shots from Gavin Moynihan and four from Daniel Mulligan.

TaylorMade Winter Series, 9 November, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71)

Nett

1. Paul McBride (Pro) The Island GC 66

2. Conor O'Rourke (Pro) The K Club 68

3. Paddy McGettigan (9) Portsalon GC 70

Gross

1. Hugh Foley (+5.4) The Royal Dublin GC  66

2. Gavin Moynihan (pro) Unattached 69

3. Daniel Mulligan (pro) Portmarnock Links 70

NEXT OUTING: November 16, two tee times remain at 11.20 & 11.30.