Alps Tour, Challenge Tour, EPD Tour, Europro Tour, European TourBrian KeoghNovember 08, 2014European Tour Qualifying School, Niall Kearney, Mick McGeady, David Higgins, Mark Murphy, Niall Turner, Ruaidhri McGee, Gareth Shaw, Brendan McCarrollComment

Kearney and McGeady head Irish Q-School hopefuls at Second Stage

Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney made a solid start at the Second Stage of the Qualifying School in Spain. Picture This Caffrey www.golffile.ie

Royal Dublin's Niall Kearne and Derry's Michael McGeady are the leading Irishmen after the opening round at the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Fewer than 20 players will progress from each of the four venues in Spain to next week's Final Stage where the Top 25 and ties after six rounds will win European Tour cards.

Kearney and Derry's Michael McGeady are the only members of Ireland's eight-strong Second Stage Challenge inside the Top-20 after day one.

Current Irish PGA champion Kearney shot a one under 70 at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona where Waterville's David Higgins and Mark Murphy are tied 50th after 73s and Ballyliffin's Brendan McCarroll tied 70th after a 77.

McGeady, who was second to Kearney in the Irish Region Order of Merit, shot a one over 73 at El Saler in Valencia but that was still good enough for a share of 17th.

Muskerry's Niall Turner, who looks likely to win back his Asian Tour card through the Top 5 in the ADT, is 54th at Las Colinas in Alicante after a two over 73.

And it was also a struggle at Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort in Castellon, where Ruaidhri McGee is tied 52nd after a level pa 72 and Lurgan's Gareth Shaw 72nd after a poor finish led to a five over 77.