Uzzell leads Kingspan Concra Wood Open

Steve Uzzell leads by one stroke after the first round of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open after carding a six-under-par 66 in the HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour event at Castleblayney, Ireland.

The Hornsea Golf Club man is trailed by Liam Murray, with three players sharing third on four-under with 36 holes to play in the event, which carries a £40,000 prize fund with £10,000 going to the winner.

Uzzell, who celebrated his 31^st birthday on Tuesday, began on the tenth tee and was five-under for his first nine, thanks in part to an eagle at the 15^th. He made two bogeys on his back nine – at two and six, but birdies at one, four and eight helped him to an opening-round 66, six-under-par.

Murray (La Marquesa Golf) signed for a bogey-free 67, five-under-par, with his round including an eagle three on the first having started his round on the tenth.

Tied for third, two behind the leader on four-under are Englishmen Rory Walsh (Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club) and Ryan Brown (Worksop Golf Club).

The leading Irishman is Colm Moriarty, who is based at Glasson Hotel and Golf Club in County Westmeath. He sits 11^th on the leaderboard on two-under-par, four behind the leader.

The Kingspan Concra Wood Open is a 54-hole strokeplay event with a cut to the leading 50 players and ties after the second round. Spectator entry is free throughout the week and Friday’s final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on August 5. Live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.