Golf:Christmas has yet to come and go and the dawn of the New Year is still some weeks away but that didn't stop the 2010 European Tour season begin in earnest with this week's Alfred Dunhill Championship in Leopard Creek, South Africa where Shane Lowry and Damien McGrane made fast starts.

Both Irishmen started on the back nine and both negotiated the Gary Player designed layout in five-under-par 67s to find themselves three-shots off the early lead set by South Africa’s Ulrich van den Berg.

Irish Open champion Lowry kicked-off his new season with a birdie at the 11th, his second, before a run of four consecutive birdies from the 15th closed-out the nine in 32. The 21-year-old’s inward half was less rewarding when a solitary birdie at the second was offset by a bogey at the seventh.

It’s the ideal start for Lowry who has dedicated himself to the Dunhill and next week’s South African Open as opportunities to improve his current world ranking of 138th.

In some ways McGrane’s round was the reverse of Lowry’s in that the Meath professional made up most ground on his inward half.

After five pars from the 10th, his first, McGrane went bogey, birdie, bogey, eagle to turn in one-under. After the eagle the momentum was maintained with birdies at the first and second before another two were added at the sixth and eighth.

Gareth Maybin was next of the Irish on one-under through five holes, the same mark as home and tournament favourite Erne Els.

Gary Murphy wasted little time getting back into action after regaining his European Tour card at last week’s Qualifying School in Spain.

The Kilkenny professional could be forgiven for a somewhat lethargic start given his undertakings of late and today’s level par 72 leaves him with work to do, while Michael Hoey was a shot further back on one-over.

Ulrich’s flawless round of 64 contained eight birdies and the rest pars to ensure a one shot lead from Sweden’s Pelle Edberg (65) in second.