Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley leads the Irish charge at the Brabazon Trophy in Hollinwell as defending champion Liam Nolan started solidly if unspectacular.
Foley is two-under-par after an opening 70 and trails leader Harry Takis by five shots.
Foley carded a final round of 66 at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Championship and he carried that form into the Brabazon with three birdies and one bogey to lie in a share of 17th place.
His club mate Jack McDonnell and Connemara’s Luke O’Neill are a shot further back after rounds of 71 while Galway’s Nolan is level-par.
There were slow starts for Sean Keeling and Irish Amateur champion Matthew McClean who slumped to three-over-par rounds of 75.
Jack Hearn is four-over with John Doyle a shot further back.