Michael Collins leads the way on four under par at the end of the opening day of the Audi Cork Irish Masters at Fota Island Resort in Cork.
Dan Seymour is second, one shot behind Collins in the seventh event of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour campaign. Seymour won the season opener at Wensum Valley in Norfolk in April and is well placed to build on that victory at Fota Island.
Collins (Marlow Golf Range) began his round at the par-five tenth and got off to a superb start with an eagle.
He continued to build his score with a birdie two the following hole and added another at the par-three seventeenth. Turning home he registered a third birdie at the first before making a bogey five at the eighth to sign for a 67.
Seymour (Newbury Golf Centre) opened with two birdies on the front nine; at the first and ninth. Another birdie at 13 saw him move to three under par but bogey fives at 14 and 16 looked to have forced him down the leaderboard. However, an eagle at the par-five 18th restored Seymour to second on the leaderboard with a score of 68
Seven golfers are tied for third, two shots off the lead. Among those to have carded an opening round of 69 are Cian McNamara and Paul Cutler.
McNamara (Team Ireland/Limerick GC) made birdies at one, 10 and 12 but dropped a shot at the par-five fourth.
Northern Irishman Paul Cutler (Portstweart) started with a birdie at the tenth and picked up further shots at 17 and two before bogeying the third and completing the remaining holes to par to sign for a 69. Behind them four golfers are one shot under par.
The second round of the Audi Cork Irish Masters gets underway at 8am on Thursday morning. After all golfers have played 36 holes a cut of the top 50 and ties will be made ahead of the final round on Friday.