Stuart Grehan lies just one shot behind the leading trio after a testing opening round of the 2025 European Amateur Championship at Vasatorps Golfklubb in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Just 10 of the 144-man field ended the day in red figures, and Grehan, who played in the late wave on day one, will be very satisfied with his one-under round of 71 that leaves him tied for fourth.
Starting on the 10th, the Tullamore native who represents County Louth came racing from the traps to birdie two of the first three holes – both par-5s – but bogeys on each of the par-3s on the back nine saw him make the turn at level-par.
A third par-3 bogey followed on two, but he swiftly followed that by birdieing the par-5 third, and he carded another birdie on the way home, this time on the par-4 fifth, to reach the clubhouse at -1 and with the benefit of an early tee time to follow on day two of the 72-hole event that will see the top 60 and ties progress after 54 holes.
Roscommon’s David Higgins is also well in touch after an opening 73 that leaves him sharing 16th at +1. Higgins was among the early starters and he had an up-and-down day, twice carding sets of back-to-back birdies but making five bogeys as well.
Matthew McClean, playing in the afternoon wave, got off to a bright start with a birdie on two, but that was his only red circle on the scorecard and he followed with five bogeys and a double to sit tied for 78th at +6.
Sean Keeling struggled for much of the day but kept himself around the early provisional cutline before a disastrous quadruple bogey on 15 and a double on 16 saw him end the day on +9 and in a tie for 113th.
Jack Gilbert from the United States, Mexican Gerardo Gomez, and Australian Kaya Mudadana share joint first-round leader honours at -2, with world number nine Filip Jakubcik of the Czech Republic and world number 26 Luke Potter from the United States alonside Grehan sharing fourth.
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