McGrane closes on Beattie in Winter Series Order of Merit

Damien McGrane made another successful raid on the Winter Series, winning the Cobra-sponsored Pro-Am Fourball event at the Heritage Golf Resort and Spa.

The European Tour regular was in a class of his own, firing a six-under-par 66 to beat John Dwyer (Asbourne) by three shots and Daniel Beattie (Deer Park) by four.

The 43-year-old McGrane birdied the par-five second and par-four ninth as he went to the turn in two-under 34. He caught fire around the turn, collecting birdies at the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th to get to five-under before adding one more birdie at the par-three 15^th to come home in four-under 32.

Dwyer went to the turn in level par with birdies at one and seven offset by dropped shots at the fourth and ninth. He also birdied the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th but closed out his back nine with a run of six pars.

Beattie, the current Order of Merit leader, failed to get going on his opening nine going out in level par 36 with a bogey at five and a birdie at six. He dropped another shot at the 12^th but bounced back in style with birdies at the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th as he came home in two-under 34.

Ciaran Boggan (Co Meath GC) guided amateur partner Michael McCarthy to the team prize ahead of McGrane and Ciaran Walsh.

Beattie has a narrow 46pt lead over McGrane in the Cobra/Puma Golf sponsored Order of Merit race ahead of the final event of the Winter Series at Co Louth GC.