Duo one ahead in Kingspan Concra Wood Open

Paul Doherty and Colm Moriarty (pictured) share the lead on three-under-par at the Kingspan Concra Wood Open after each shot 69 on the opening day of the 888poker.comPGA EuroPro Tour event.

The pair are one clear of the six golfers who share third place on two-under at the par-72 course in Castleblayney, Ireland.                  

Scotsman Doherty (Vale Hotel) carded birdies on the first, fifth and 11th for his flawless round, an improvement on last year for the 28-year-old, who missed the cut at Concra Wood.

Moriarty, who plays out of Glasson Hotel and Golf Club in Westmeath, started his round on the 10th and turned home two-under after birdies at 15 and 17. A four on the par-five first took him to three-under and he closed out the remainder of his round to par.

A finish which featured an eagle at 15 and birdies at 17 and 18 saw last year’s Kingspan Concra Wood Open winner Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth GC) transform a score of two-over-par to sign for a two-under 70, leaving him as one of six players just one stroke off the lead.

Irishmen Ruaidhri McGee (Rosapenna), Neil O’Briain (Old Conna Golf Club) and Michael McGeady are also two-under after day one, as are Scotland’s Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) and England’s Alex Belt (De Vere/Snainton), who won his first 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event at the PDC & WSL Open at Collingtree Park in June.