With DP World Tour Stage One Q-School Qualifiers taking place at England’s Donnington Grove and Arlandastad Golf in Sweden, the early signs are positive with several Irish players prominent on the leaderboards.
John Murphy is the sole Irish representative in Sweden, and the Kinsale man lies tied for 28th on one-over-par with 11 players tied for 10th on one-under and the top 17 and ties advancing to Stage Two after the four rounds.
American David Pastore carded the low round of the day and takes first round leader honours at -6, two clear of German amateur Frederick Eisenbeis.
In England, Niall Kearney, Tom Dowdall and Marc Boucher each shot opening rounds of 70 for two-under tallies that see the inside the top 10, sharing seventh place.
Hot on their heels and among the 17-strong group tied for 13th are Cormac Sharvin and David Carey on -1, again with the top 17 and ties moving on after 72 holes.
Ignatius McGuinness shares 30th place at level-par, with Michael Young one shot further adrift on +1 and Paul McBride one shot further back on +2.
Kearney has good memories from Donnington Grove having finished in fifth place in the Stage One Qualifier there in 2024, while McBride also advanced despite shooting an over-par round on day two.
Englishman Paul Taylor leads the way on seven-under with a two-stroke lead over amateur and fellow countryman, Archie Smith.
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