Gleeson takes route 66 at Portmarnock Links
SNOW might have stopped play across the country last week but there was no stopping Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan and Castle’s Alex Gleeson in this week’s TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
Gleeson has been in excellent form with the Irish squad so far this season and the plus-four handicapper continued that at Portmarnock Links, carding a bogey-free, five-under par 66 to win the gross by three strokes from Beaverstown’s Gary Cullen and by five from Irish Professional champion Tim Rice from Limerick.
Out in four-under 32 thanks to birdies at the second, fourth, sixth and ninth, the Castle international picked up another shot at the 12th for a memorable win as Cullen bogeyed his last three holes.
Now a professional and still basking in the glow of his first win on the Algarve Pro Tour last month, Grehan shot a four-under 67 in light winds to win the first nett prize by three strokes from Kilcock three handicapper Ciaran Campbell and Mullingar professional James Quinlivan.
Due to the continued success of the Taylormade Winter Series, the competition will run until April 24 to give some of Ireland’s top players the chance to get some competitive golf under their belts before the season begins in earnest. TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 75, CSS 74)
Nett: 1, Stuart Grehan (Pro) Unattached 67; 2, Ciaran Campbell (3) Kilcock 70 (B9); 3, James Quinlivan (Pro) Mullingar 70.
Gross: 1, Alex Gleeson (+4) Castle 66; 2, Gary Cullen (+2) Beaverstown 69; 3, Tim Rice (Pro) Limerick 71.