Max Kennedy looks to have put the disappointment of Monday’s East of Ireland Championship miss behind him as he wrestled his way into contention on day one of the St Andrews Links Trophy.
Playing on the New Course, Kennedy carded a two-under 69 to lie in second place three shots behind early pacesetter Seb Cave of England.
The Royal Dublin star birdied two of his first three holes before dropping a shot on the sixth.
He was blemish free from there with a run of pars being broken by a birdie on the par-5 12th.
His club mate Hugh Foley is a shot further back after a 70 while another Royal Dublin clubman Jack McDonnell is on level-par after a 71.
East of Ireland winner Caolan Rafferty is also on level-par after a rollercoaster round that included three birdies in a row to finish.
Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins is a shot further back while David Shiel (Enniscrone) and Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) are on plus two.
Scoring HERE