Jenkinson and Doherty top Christmas charts at Portmarnock Links
Jack Doherty (Leinster) celebrates after holing the winning putt on the 17th during the final day of the Boys (Under 18) Interprovincial Matches at Blarney Golf Resort (27/07/2017). Picture by Pat Cashman
St Margaret's Shane Jenkinson rattled off seven birdies in a four-under 67 to top an 86-strong field and win the final TaylorMade Winter Series outing of the year at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
With little wind and balmy temperatures conducive to good scoring, Jenkinson won the nett by two strokes from Kilcock five handicapper Ciaran Campbell (69) with Lucan four-handicapper Mark Clifford third with a 70.
Carton House's Jack Doherty came home in 31 to edge out Castleknock's Paul Coughlan for the gross with a two-under 69 as Whitehead's John-Ross Galbraith, now a professional, finished third with a 70.
The Winter Series is a regular Tuesday date for Ireland's top amateurs and professionals and Jenkinson and Doherty were worthy winners.
Jenkinson bogeyed the first but birdied the second and fifth to go out in one-under 35 before starting for home with three successive birdies.
He got to five under par with another birdie at the 14th and followed bogeys at the 15th and 17th with a birdie at the 18th as he came home in 32 for his 67.
Galbraith went out in 36 as he mixed birdies at the second and sixth with bogeys at the third and fourth.
But he came home in 34 shots with birdies at the 13th and 18th against a solitary bogey at the tough par-three 17th as Damien McGrane and Jonathan Yates just missed out prizes after a countback.
As for the amateurs, plus one handicapper Doherty might not have been thinking of a prize after he went out in 38 with a birdie at the sixth and bogeys at the third, fifth and seventh.
But he stormed home in 31 for his 69, dropping just one shot at the 13th but rapping in birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 18th to win the gross on a countback from Coughlan.
Three handicapper Campbell had a birdie at the first and a bogey at the tough fifth before coming home in 36 by following bogeys at the 12th and 13th with a closing birdie three.
One handicapper Rob Fitzpatrick had an ace at the 195-yard third.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 75, CSS 74)
Tuesday 19th December
- Shane Jenkinson (PRO) St. Margaret's 67
- Ciaran Campbell (3) Kilcock 69
- Mark Clifford (4) Lucan 70
Gross
- Jack Doherty (Carton House) 69 (B9:31)
- Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 69
- John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead GC) 70
Next outing: 2 January.