Keyes and McDermott take the plaudits at Portmarnock Links
Michael McDermott. Picture: PGA in Ireland
Grange professional Michael McDermott and Dun Laoghaire amateur Luka Keyes took the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
Playing off two, and a member of Dun Laoghaire's winning side in the Leinster section of the Irish Junior Foursomes last year, Keyes made two birdies and two bogeys to turn in level par.
Dun Laoghaire's Luka Keyes
He then came home in 38 to win the nett with a one-over 72, edging out Castle's Eoghan McKeever and Royal Tara's Sean Whelan by a shot.
Despite shooting an excellent, level par 71, Elm Park's Charlie Denvir was left to rue bogeys at the 17th and 18th as he finished a shot behind McDermott in the gross.
Out in 36 with one birdie and one bogey on his card, the Connacht Under 18 Boys champion eagled the 15th to get to two-under before those late mistakes.
Former West of Ireland champion McDermott went out in 37 with eight pars and a solitary bogey at the fourth on his card.
But he came back in 33 by following a bogey at the tricky 10th with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 15th to beat Denvir by one and top the 74-strong field in a steady breeze.
Charlie Denvir
Halpenny Golf's Steven Quinlan took the third gross prize with a 72, coming back from three-over-par after just three holes.
After following a double bogey at the second with a bogey at the third, he birdied the par-five fourth and sixth and bogeyed the eighth but came home in one-under by following another double bogey at the 12th with birdies at the 14th, 16th, and 18th.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71; SSS 75; CSS 75)
Tuesday 30th January
Nett
- Luka Keyes (2) Dun Laoghaire 72
- Eoghan McKeever (1) Castle 73
- Sean Whelan (3) Royal Tara 73
Gross
- Michael McDermott (Grange) 70
- Charlie Denvir (Elm Park) 71
- Steven Quinlan (Halpenny) 72
