Niall Kearney is the leading Irishman after the opening day of the PGA Playoffs in Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, Cyprus but the three home hopefuls have work to do if they are to secure a precious Amgen Irish Open start.
The winner of this 54-hole event will secure a start at the K Club, at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the Betfred British Masters and the Scottish and Irish Challenge.
Royal Dublin professional Kearney is three shots off the pace after he opened his account with a round of 74 which leaves him in a share of fifth place.
The reigning Irish PGA champion began with three straight pars but would have to wait until the 12th for his next.
A bogey on the fourth was followed by back to back birdies before three successive bogeys saw him to the turn.
A mixed bag continued with a birdie, bogey start to his back nine and further dropped shots came on 15 and 17 before a closing birdie stopped the bleeding and he will still have aspirations of catching current leader Graeme Robertson.
Limerick’s Tim Rice is back in the pack on six-over with Michael McGeady a shot further back.
Below is a full list of exemptions up for grabs this week:
1st Place
DP World Tour – Betfred British Masters
DP World Tour – Amgen Irish Open
DP World Tour – BMW PGA Championship
HotelPlanner Tour – Farmfoods Scottish Challenge
HotelPlanner Tour – Irish Challenge
2nd Place
DP World Tour – Betfred British Masters
HotelPlanner Tour – Farmfoods Scottish Challenge
For more information or to follow the scoring, click here.
