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.

EUROPEAN TOUR SECOND QUALIFYING STAGE, NOVEMBER 7-10

LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, ALICANTE

• T54 Niall Turner 73 +2

CAMPO DE GOLF EL SALER, VALENCIA

• T17 Michael McGeady 73 +1

LUMINE GOLF & BEACH CLUB, TARRAGONA

• T15 Niall Kearney 70 -1
• T50 David Higgins 73 +2
• T50 Mark Murphy 73 +2
• T70 Brendan McCarroll 77 +6

PANORAMICA GOLF & SPORT RESORT, CASTELLÓN

• T52 Ruaidhri McGee 72 E
• 72 Gareth Shaw 77 +5