Peter Martin from the Colin Park Golf Academy in Belfast leads the Irish PGA championship with a five-under-par 67 after the first round at Mount Juliet.
He is two shots ahead of Eamon Brady (Clontarf), John Kelly ( St Margaret's) and Barrie Trainor ( Mayobridge), with David Higgins who is on the verge of being crowned the Order of Merit winner among a group of seven a shot further back.
The event which was due to be played over 72 holes has been cut back to 54 with an early morning deluge of rain causing thee cancellation of the first round on Thursday
The rain returned yesterday afternoon when the leader was out in the worst of the heavy showers but managed three birdies on his first nine which was the back nine, but had a disappointing bogey on the par5 17th, only to notch another three birdies on his homeward nine.
He said he drew inspiration from the play of his two playing partners, the Order of Merit leader and former Ryder Cup star Philip Walton, who carded level par 72.
