Rowan Lester shot a two-under par 70 to be the best of the Irish contingent at Frilford Heath on the Clutch Pro Tour.
The Hermitage man birdied the 10th, his first hole of the day before a double bogey on the 12th threatened to derail his round. After birdieing the 15th and bogeying the 18th to turn in one-over par, Lester made three birdies on the front nine to shoot 2-under par to sit just inside the top 30.
Billie McKenzie shot a stellar 8-under par 64 to lead by one over Reis Suart and Angus Flanagan. McKenzie combined nine bogeys with a solitary bogey on the 18th, his 9th hole of the day.
It was a tough day for the rest of the Irish in Oxfordshire. Liam Grehan shot a 3-over par 75 which included a double bogey on 18, his 9th hole of the day.
Tom Dowdall was 5-over par through 2 holes on route to a disappointing 80. Dowdall managed to birdie the 8th and 9th, his final two holes of the day to salvage some pride.
Eoin O’Brien shot a 9-over par 81. All the damage for the Clontarf man was done with a front nine 45.
Rowan Lester gets his second round underway at 9.40am today.
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