Moriarty and Jenkinson lead after 18 holes at Roganstown

Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf &CC) and Colm Moriarty (Glasson GC) edged ahead of the field at the close of play on day one of the 110th Irish PGA Championship at Roganstown Hotel and Country Club.

The duo completed rounds of three under par (68) at the €32,000 event, two shots ahead of Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) and Sean Cannon (Athy GC).

Moriarty cruised to success in the pre-event pro-am on Monday with a sublime seven-under par 64 and he continued in the same vein yesterday, posting a bogey free round with his birdies coming at the third, fourth, and 10th.

Jenkinson's round was built on a brilliant burst of scoring on his front nine. After opening with bogeys at the first and second he birdied the third and fourth before collecting an eagle at the par-five fifth.

A third birdie of the day saw him reach the turn in three under 32 but he couldn't continue that momentum and further birdies at the 10th and 18th were cancelled out by dropped shots at the 12th and 15th.

Defending champion, Damien McGrane (Carlow GC), opened his campaign with a four over par 75 that leaves him down the field in a share of 28th.

A cut to the top 50 and ties will take place after round two today (Wednesday).

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