Ake Nilsson leads after the opening day of the Challenge of Ireland at Moyvalley, after carding a five-under-par 67 at the Kildare venue. The Swede, however, is being closely watched with a group of eight that includes Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell, one shot adrift.

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, Scotland’s Greig Hutchinson and the Challenge tour’s number three Robert Coles are also in the reckoning.

Colm Moriarty (70) and Cian McNamara (71) are the only other Irishmen under par.

“I opened with a bogey, so my round didn’t get off to the best start,” said Nilsson. “But then I bounced back with a 30 foot putt for birdie on the second, which got me going. T

“he key today was definitely my putting, because I also sunk another 30 foot putt on the 17th hole. I’m usually a streaky putter - today was a good day, but tomorrow could be a bad day.

“I just hope my putter stays warm for the next three days. It would be good if the weather stays warm for the next few days as well, although I have no problem playing in tough conditions.”

Ulsterman Caldwell is feeling good about his game too, after struggling to make his mark so far on his maiden European Tour.

“My game’s slowly starting to come together now, and my main aim over the next couple of weeks is to earn enough money to get into the Kazakhstan Open at the end of the season,” he said after his 68.

Coles is yet to finish outside the top 20 in five starts this season, was almost forced to withdraw from the event after suffering a bout of food poison at the start of the week.

“I was sick all day Monday, and then when I did make it out of bed on Tuesday, I was struggling to hit the ball,” said the Essex golfer. “But I felt a bit better yesterday, so I decided to play - and I’m very glad I did.”

Baker, the Argentinean duo of Julian Etulain and Cesar Monasterio, Hutcheon, Germany’s Max Kramer and Norway’s Peter Kaensche made it an eight-way tie for second place, the latter courtesy of a final hole birdie which completed a flawless round.