Former European Tour player Gary Murphy carded a one-under 70 for the best score of the day in the opening TaylorMade Winter Series outing of the season at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.

The K Club professional (49) mixed birdies at the third and fifth with bogeys at the first and seventh to turn in level par before mixing eight pars with a lone birdie at the 14th in an excellent homeward nine.

The Kilkenny man won the nett after a countback from Rathcore’s Andrew Harte on a day when 84 players teed it up in a stiff north breeze with the thermometer never rising above 4C.

Playing off 11 on the day, Harte went out in three-over-par with the highlight of the day his birdie at the 200-yard 17th.

Headfort’s Brian Casey took the third nett with a one-over 72 that featured birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and 14th.

Dundalk professional Leslie Walker (53) made three birdies (second, sixth, 17th) and three bogeys (third, seventh, 18th) in a level par 71 to win the gross by a shot from Daniel Mulligan, who had birdies at the eighth, 16th and 17th in his 72.

Limerick’s Tim Rice (44) was third with a 73 as he birdied the fourth and 13th and bogeyed the second, seventh, 10th and 17th.

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

4 January 2022

Nett

1. Gary Murphy (Pro) The K Club 70

2. Andrew Harte (8.7) Rathcore 70

3. Brian Casey (Pro) Unattached 72

Gross

1. Leslie Walker (Pro) Dundalk GC 71

2. Daniel Mulligan (Pro) Portmarnock Links 72

3. Tim Rice (Pro) Limerick GC 73

Next outing: 11 January, some tee-times available