Casey and Grehan on top in Nicklaus Series
BRIAN Casey and Stuart Grehan claimed the top prizes in the opening Killeen Castle Nicklaus Series outing of the winter at the Co Meath venue.
In a reversal of last week’s TaylorMade Winter Series result at Portmarnock Links, Casey shot a five-under 67 to win the gross as the Tullamore man took the best nett with a score of 68.
Play was delayed due to frost with the field of single figure amateurs and professional golfers teeing off from the signature par-five 12th hole.
The leading pair, who partnered each other in a tight battle throughout, both turned in five-under par.
Grehan then bogeyed his tenth (the 3rd) before adding a birdie on the par-five seventh and a bogey on the tough parfour 10th to come home in one over par for his 68.
Casey made no such mistakes however with a solid par-home finish on back nine to finish with an impressive 67.
Black Bush’s Rick Weldon had three eagles – at the second, seventh and 12th – to win the second gross with a 68 while one-handicapper Cormac Ryan from Killeen Castle took the second nett with a 71.
Old Conna professional Donal Gleeson won the third gross with a 71 as Portmarnock’s Shane McGlynn won the third nett with a 71 off scratch
Killeen Castle Nicklaus Series, Killeen Castle (Par 72, SSS 72 CSS 73)
Gross: 1, Brian Casey (Pro) Headfort 67 (41 pts); 2, Rick Weldon (Pro) Black Bush 68 (40 pts); 3, Donal Gleeson (Pro) Old Conna 71 (37pts) Nett: 1, Stuart Grehan (Pro) Tullamore 68 (40 pts); 2, Cormac Ryan (1) Killeen Castle 71 (37 pts); 3, Shane McGlynn (Scr) Portmarnock 71 (37pts) Next Event: Killeen Castle, Friday, November 16. Open to GUI Members, PGA Members and non-affiliated professional golfers. Max handicap 9.4. €200 GUI credit if won by amateurs. Series winners will be leading scorer in both Gross & Nett categories based on their best 3 scores from the series. Student rate: €40 including lunch. Tel: 01 6893000.