David Carey returned to Alps Tour duty in fine form, posting five birdies in a four-under par opening 68 to grab a share of the lead at the Golf Nazionale Alps Open.
The Darwin Escapes professional, who’s the top Irishman on this season’s Order of Merit in 21st place, put his immense power to use on day one in Italy to sit in a four-way tie for the top overnight alongside French amateur Paul Margolis, Italian Nicola Maestroni and Swiss man Mathias Eggenberger.
Carey wasn’t the only man making the trip to Rome with Paul McBride, fresh off advancing to Second Stage at Korn Ferry Q-School, putting in a solid if unspectacular one-over 73 to sit in a tie for 22nd alongside Simon Bryan on a tough scoring day in Italy.
Naas professional Jonathan Yates and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley are two-over par and complete the Irish scoring.
This is the penultimate event on the Alps calendar ahead of next week’s Grand Final at Modena Golf and Country Club. At season’s end, the top ten players on the Order of Merit are exempt through the second stage of European Tour Q-School and the top five win playing privileges on the Challenge Tour.
- Full scoring HERE
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