Moriarty hits the front at Concra Wood

Colm Moriarty Paul Doherty and Colm Moriarty shot three under 69s to share the first round lead at the Kingspan Concra Wood Open on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

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

Scotsman Doherty (Vale Hotel) carded birdies on the first, fifth and 11th to sign for an opening-round 69. The 28-year-old missed the cut at Concra Wood in 2012 but didn’t suffer a single bogey in the opening round of this season’s tournament on Wednesday.

Moriarty, who plays out of Glasson Hotel and Golf Club in Westmeath, started his round on the tenth 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, matching Doherty’s 69 to share the lead ahead of day two.

A finish which featured an eagle at 15 and birdies at 17 and 18 saw defending champion Billy Hemstock 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.

Ruaidhri McGee (Rosapenna), Neil O Briain (Old Conna Golf Club) and Michael McGeady are in a six-way tie for third also two under with Noel Fox tied for ninth after a one under 71.