Rowan Lester leads the Irish charge after the opening day of the First Stage of Sunshine Tour Qualifying School at Benoni Country Club.
Lester, who represents Hermitage Golf Club carded an eagle at the last for a one-over 73 which leaves him in a share of 19th place.
Lester opened his day with a birdie but dropped shots on the 3rd, 5th and 8th put him under pressure. A bogey on 17 was followed by a superb eagle on the par-5 18th and he is just four shots off the joint lead.
The top-40 progress to the Final Stage and Lester is in good shape and will carry some momentum into the second round after his sensational finish.
Lurking just a shot behind Lester is professional debutant, Robert Brazill on two-over and in a tie for 31st.
The Naas man started well with two birdies and a bogey but a triple bogey seven on the 7th threatened to derail his week but he responded well with two birdies cancelling out two bogeys before he birdied the last.
The K Club’s Liam Grehan, who had his clubs damaged on a Ryanair flight a fortnight ago, is on four-over after a 76 and is just outside the top-40 in 50th place.
Scoring HERE