Two players share the lead after the first round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close championships at Kilkenny Golf Club yesterday.

Eoin Barton (Ballinasloe) and Gareth Pierce (Woodbrook) carded 69s in identical fashion. Both went out in 35 and did the second nine in 34.

The championships, which are sponsored by the Faldo junior series, will provide the winner with an invitation into the Faldo junior series international final, which will be played in the Belfry in October.

A surprise non-qualifier for today's 36 holes was Sean McTernan (Co Sligo). He was a member of the European Boys team in Sweden in July and also the world junior team in Japan. However, the touch was not with him yesterday and he shot a 78 to miss the cut by two shots.