Hurley best of the Irish at weather-affected Alps Tour Winter Series

Gary Hurley leads the Irish challenge on the Alps Tour after the weather-affected opening round was suspended due to darkness at the Winter Series Terre dei Consoli in Italy.

The West Waterford man only completed 14 holes prior to the horn sounding – with play delayed for two hours due to fog in the morning – carding five birdies, however he bogeyed his final hole of the day to sit at four-under.

That is one shot off the lead held by five players, all of whom finished their rounds by signing for five-under 67s at Terre dei Consoli, with Manuel Elvira, Stefano Mazzoli, Pierre Pineau, Benjamin Kedochim and Adrien Pendaries all tied at that mark.

Hurley could eclipse them when he returns to finish his first round on Thursday morning, and he has one par-five to play before he returns to the clubhouse.

Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell continued his strong form with a two-under 70, four birdies and two bogeys getting him to that score which has him in a share of 22nd.

Naas man Jonathan Yates had perhaps the most interesting round of the day as seven birdies, a bogey, a double-bogey and a triple-bogey led to a one-under 71 to have him one short further back in 38th.

David Carey will resume his first round with five holes still to complete, the Castleknock man sitting at level-par as two birdies were cancelled out by two bogeys, while The Island’s Paul McBride and PGA Catalunya’s Luke Donnelly are both in the clubhouse at one-over.

It was a tough opening day for Michael Young, who opened with a three-over 75, while Druids Heath pro Simon Bryan failed to card a birdie in a six-over 78.

At the top, Ein Bay Open champion Mazzoli looks to have maintained his excellent run as he shot an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in a five-under 67 to share the lead alongside four others.

Elvira, brother of DP World Tour pro Nacho, mixed six birdies and one bogey to join him and a trio of Frenchmen, with Pineau, Pendaries and Kedochim – who had the most interesting round with two eagles, five birdies, three bogeys and a double – also recording 67s.