Casey and McGrane shine at Portmarnock Links
A STIFF north wind proved no obstacle to Brian Casey as he made seven birdies in a four-under 67 to win the nett by four shots in the Taylor Made Tuesday Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
The Meath professional beat Mannan Castle’s Mark Lambe (71) and Grange professional Michael McDermott (72) as 85 players hit the north Dublin links.
Casey made three birdies in his first four holes and was four-under-par before he dropped his first shot of the day at the ninth.
Out in 33, he bounced back from that bogey with a birdie, then came home in one-under 34 to take the nett prize from one-handicapper Lambe, who played the Links’ four par-threes in two-under-par.
McDermott opened with nine pars and followed bogeys at the 10th and 11th with a birdie at the 15th for his 72.
Former European Tour winner Damien McGrane shot a two-under 69 to win the gross, following his lone bogey of the day at the par-three third with birdies at the fourth, 15th and 17th.
Former East of Ireland winner Richard O’Donovan was three-over after four holes but played the back nine in two-under for an excellent 72
Joe Lyons produced the third-best gross and might have done better with a little more luck on the greens.
The highlight of his round came at the 590-yard fourth, where he found the green in two and holed a 50 footer for eagle en route to a 73.
The Galway clubman has now been cut to a career-low handicap of plus three. Taylor Made Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links Nett: 1, Brian Casey (pro) Unattached 67; 2, Mark Lambe (1) Mannan Castle 71; 3, Michael McDermott (pro) Grange GC 72 Gross: 1, Damien McGrane (Pro) 69; 2, Richard O’Donovan (Dun Laoghaire) 72; 3, Joe Lyons (Galway) 73.