Simon Thornton and John Kelly led the way among the 18-strong Irish contingent after the opening round at the second stage of European Tour qualifying in the south of Spain today.
Royal County Down's Thornton shot a five-under-par round of 67 at Arcos Gardens to lie in a share of second spot, one shot off the lead held by former European Tour winner Santiago Luna on a wet and windy day in Jerez.
South County's Barrie Trainor signed for a one-under 71, Stackstown golfer Mark Campbell came in one shot further back, while Mark Murphy carded a one-over 73
Kelly, from the St Margaret's club in Dublin, fired a five-under 67 for a share of fourth spot at Costa Ballena. It still left him five shots off the lead after highly-talented Spanish teenager Jordi Garcia Pinto shot a blistering ten-under-par 62, which featured two eagles and six birdies.
Lurgan's Gareth Shaw was also sub-par after a two-under 70, with Alan Murray on level after a 70. Birr's Justin Kehoe was well down the field after an opening 75.
Douglas' Peter O'Keeffe was the best of the Irish at Montemedio, his two-under 70 leaving him in a tie for ninth spot, three shots behind the leaders.
Jonathan Caldwell and Richard Kilpatrick were also in the top 20 after one-under-par rounds of 71. Daniel Sugrue (78) and Mark Staunton (81) will have their work cut out after poor starts.
At Sherry Golf, Eddie Barr shot a level-par 72 for a tie of 17th spot, with Waterville's David Higgins a shot further back. Esker Hills amateur Shane Lowry was three-over after a 75, with Colm Moriarty (76) and Noel Fox (79) down the field.
A total of 78 places in next week's final stage of qualifying are available to the 309 golfers taking part.
EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Stage Two - Leading first round scores - At Arcos Gardens, Jerez, Spain (Par 72): 66S Luna (Spa);
67G Davies (Eng), R Kind (am, Neth), Simon Thornton (Ire);
68 M Eliasson (Swe), M Ford (Eng), J Little (Eng), W Ormsby (Aus), P Terreni (Ita).
Other Irish:
71Barrie Trainor;
72Mark Campbell;
73Mark Murphy.
At Montenmedio (Par 72): 67A Hogberg (Swe), A Kristiansen (am, Nor), G Woodman (Eng); 68 M Quiros (Spa), F Zanotti (Par). Irish: 70Peter O'Keeffe; 71Jonathan Caldwell, Richard Kilpatrick; 78Daniel Sugrue; 81Mark Staunton.
At Costa Ballena (Par 72): 62J Garcia (Spa); 66B Evans (Eng), J Grillon (Fra); 67John Kelly (Ire), J Mellor (Eng). Other Irish: 70Gareth Shaw; 72Alan Murray; 75Justin Kehoe.
At Sherry Golf (Par 72): 66C Carranza (Arg); 68 A Grenier (Fra), J Guerrier (Fra); 69S Alker (Nzl), F Calmels (Fra), J Dantorp (Swe), S Jeppesen (Swe). Irish: 72Eddie Barr; 73David Higgins; 75Shane Lowry (am); 76Colm Moriarty; 79Noel Fox.
