John Murphy is just three shots off the lead after the opening day of the B-NL Challenge Trophy by Hulencourt in Belgium.
Murphy is six-under after a 66 while a host of Irish players also started well.
The Kinsale native started fast with two birdies in his first four holes before adding another on the 16th.
His lone bogey came at the 18th before he put together an excellent back nine of 32 to push himself into contention.
Birdies at three, six, seven and nine saw him take route 66 and maintain his end of season promotion push to the DP World Tour.
The 24-year-old is currently 30th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings knowing a win would secure a full DP World Tour card next season.
Hollywood’s Tom McKibbin has also started well with a four-under 68 which included an eagle on the par-5 9th.
The 19-year-old also carded birdies on the first, thirteenth and eighteenth with his only bogey coming on 8.
Portmarnock man Conor Purcell is a shot further back after a 69 while a 70 saw Gary Hurley move to two-under.
Ruaidhri McGee is one-under after a 71 while Galway man Ronan Mullarney is two-over and
Tramore’s Robin Dawson +6.
Frenchman Clement Sordet is out in front on nine-under after a superb 63.
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