Max Kennedy and Mark Power made quick starts on day one of the UAE Challenge as action resumed on the HotelPlanner Tour.
Both players carded five-under-par rounds of 67 to lie in a share of ninth place, just three shots off the early pace set by Vince Van Veen and JC Ritchie at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club.
Kennedy, making his first start since his PGA Tour debut in Puerto Rico, where he made the cut, got off to a lightning start but fluttered away shots late in his round.
The Royal Dubliner was seven-under through eleven holes after he followed up a four birdie front nine with a birdie on the tenth and an eagle on the par-5 11th.
The 23-year-old carded back to back bogeys on the 14th and 15th and followed a birdie on 16 with another dropped shot on the 17th.
Power meanwhile, carded his only bogey on his closing hole at the ninth to end what was an otherwise flawless round.
The Kilkenny man has shown signs of promise on the Clutch Pro Tour’s UAE swing without putting the full 54-holes together but he carried his bright sparks into his first HotelPlanner Tour start of the season.
Power carded birdies on the 11th, 14th, 18th, 3rd, 4th and sixth as he looks to take advantage of his opportunity this week.
Jonathan Caldwell is three-under after a round of 69 while UAE based pro Damien Scott is one-over after a 73.
Dermot McElroy and Daniel Mulligan have work to do to make the cut from two and three-over respectively while Dan Byrne, another UAE based pro is five-over.
Scoring HERE
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