Clarke defies the elements at Portmarnock links

THE Island’s Rhys Clarke outdid the professionals to win the gross with a best of the day 72 in the TaylorMade Winter Series at a windlashed Portmarnock.

Just 50 players braved horizontal rain and a steady 25 mph southerly wind that gusted close to 40 mph but despite making three bogeys in his first five holes, plus one handicapper Clarke was not to be denied.

Accustomed to the wind, he eagled the par-five sixth, and while he bogeyed the ninth hole to go out in two-over, he made back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th and was only denied a level par round by a closing bogey.

His one-over 72 gave him the gross by two strokes from Galway pro Roy O’Neill, who shot 74 with Killeen Castle professional Andrew Gorman third with a 75.

Dundalk professional Leslie Walker took the top nett prize with a two-over 73 as Cork’s John Hickey, now a professional, signed for a 74 to edge out Athlone professional Daniel O’Connor on a countback for second.

Out in three over with back to back sixes at the par-five fourth and par-four fifth, Walker mixed a lone birdie at the 14th with eight pars on the way home.