KLM Open: Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke are within sight of Rolf Muntz's first round lead at the KLM Open as the race for Ryder Cup places is on the minds of many players in the penultimate event before Nick Faldo's European team is finalised.
Muntz might be considered a surprise leader for the Dutchman no longer holds a European Tour card and was forced to qualify for the event in his home country.
That said, local knowledge worked well as he fired an opening six-under par 64 at Kennemer Golf and Country Club to lead by one shot from England's John Bickerton and Denmark's Soren Hansen.
The former British amateur champion was in the first group, which meant he avoided the worst of the weather to sign a card containing six birdies and no dropped shots.
"It's awesome playing in front of your home crowd and it was a gorgeous round - the kind you plan on paper and it actually works out," said a delighted Muntz after his round.
McGrane is three shots back on three-under after his opening 67. The Meath pro, who won the China Open earlier this year, was four-under coming down the stretch but dropped his only shot at the 17th.
Clarke, who needs a wild card if he is to make Faldo's Valhalla team, is a shot further back on two-under but felt he left some shots out on the course.
The Dungannon man bogeyed two of his final three holes as a lunchtime storm hit the course. He still accepted 68 as a decent start.
"I'd much prefer to be four-under, but it got pretty tricky and we were unlucky to be on two of the most difficult holes at the time," said Clarke, who turned 40 last week.
Paul McGinley is the only other Irishman under par after he signed for a 69.
Gary Murphy was two-over after his 72, two better than Rory McIlroy, while Peter Lawrie was five-over and Mark Campbell finished seven-over.
Elsewhere Justin Rose kept his hope of a first Ryder Cup cap alive as he is tied fifth alongside the likes of McGrane on three-under.
Rose pulled out of this week's FedEx Cup first leg in America - the Barclays Classic - to try and secure his place on the European team.
"Now I'm looking forward to an afternoon nap," said Rose, who couldn't get any sleep last night. "It must have been three o'clock when I got to sleep - I had a coffee at dinner and there must have been rocket fuel in it.
"I wasn't as rested as I would have liked, but I got away with it. I didn't play particularly well, but I guess I managed it well. When you are a pro you learn how to make the most of your game when you are not tip-top.
"I'm really pleased - I knew coming here that there would be a lot of attention on the Ryder Cup, but I just had to try to get into the mindset of playing tournament golf," added the Englishman, who was joint ninth at the US PGA two weeks ago.
Rose lies eighth on the Ryder Cup table. The only one of the leading candidates to score better than him was Hansen, currently in the 10th and last automatic spot a mere 213 points ahead of German Martin Kaymer.
Hansen, who made a late decision to enter the tournament because of the Ryder Cup, hit back from a double bogey on the ninth with what he called a "spectacular" inward 30 to share second.
Competition for a place on the European team is hotting up with Paul Casey starting the FedEx Cup play-offs at the Barcklays with a 66 in New Jersey.
Pádraig Harrington opened with a one-over 72 to be 10 shots off of the early lead held by Hunter Mahan after the American carded a wonderful 62 at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
- additional reporting PA
