The K Club’s Liam Grehan made a late eagle two to card a one-under 70 and claim a two-stroke win in the first Hilary Links Golf Society outing of the season at Laytown and Bettystown.

One of the country’s top PGA professionals, Grehan turned in level par after following a bogey at the third with a birdie at the fourth before holing out from 88 yards for an eagle two at the 337-yard 17th to come home in one-under and edge out Naas’ Irish international Robert Brazill for the top gross prize.

“On 17 I hit a nice drive and left myself 88 yards into the wind and played it as 100,” Grehan reported. “It pitched pin high, kicked forward and spun back into the hole.

“I played nicely over all, despite making double on 13 from 140. Missed an 8 inch putt when tapping in.”

“L&B was in super nick ahead of the scratch cup at the weekend. I hadn’t played it since the 2019 scratch Cup and I was really impressed. The greens have a nice bit of pace on them.“

With a brisk southerly breeze and the occasional shower keeping the players on their toes from the back stakes at the always demanding Co Meath links, Grehan birdied the 10th before following that double-bogey at the 13th with a birdie at the 14th.

He would drop a shot at the 15th to slip to one-over par before his eagle at the 17th allowed him to card the lone sub-par score of the day.

Brazill parred the first nine holes, birdied the 10th and 11th but then bogeyed the 15th and double-bogeyed the 16th en route to a one-over 72 and second place.

St Anne’s Derek Nolan won the nett, carding a fine 70 off a handicap of six.

After a birdie at the fourth, he double-bogeyed the short sixth before mixing eight par with four bogeys in his last 12 holes.

The Island’s Brendan Murray took the second nett with 77 with a 74 off plus three.

Seven professionals were joined by 34 amateurs, many of whom will be back for Sunday’s SSC-sponsored Laytown and Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup (see draw), which is a popular warm-up event for the West of Ireland Championship at Co Sligo.