Donnelly, Yates and Coughlan trail Pastor by five in Malaga
Castleknock's Paul Coughlan. Picture: Pat Cashman Photography
Kilkenny's Luke Donnelly, Naas' Jonny Yates and Castleknock's Paul Coughlan opened with 71s to trail leader Victor Pastor by five strokes after the opening round of the 72-hole Copa Analucía in Spain.
Donnelly made an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys in a one-under-par effort to share sixth place with Yates (two birdies, one bogey) and Coughlan (one eagle, one birdie, two bogeys) and head the nine-strong Irish challenge at Real Club de Golf de Guadalmina in Malaga.
Despite opening with three straight bogeys, Pastor shot a six-under 66 to lead by three with six of his nine birdies coming in his last seven holes.
The cut for the top 50 and ties will be made after Thursday's third round.
Copa Analucía, Real Club de Golf de Guadalmina, Malaga (Par 72)
1 VICTOR PASTOR RUFIAN -3.5 66 -6
2 JORGE MAICAS REDONDO -2.0 69 -3
3 ANGEL HIDALGO PORTILLO -3.5 69 -3
4 IGNACIO DE PINEDA LUGSTENMANN -0.7 70 -2
5 XABIER GOROSPE GURIDI -2.5 70 -2
6 ALVARO HERNANDEZ CABEZUELA -1.9 71 -1
7 LUKE DONNELLY -2.2 71 -1
8 JOEL MOSCATEL NACHSHON -1.6 71 -1
9 SERGIO PARRIEGO CORNEJO -3.0 71 -1
10 JONATHAN YATES -3.2 71 -1
11 PAUL COUGHLAN -4.2 71 -1
20 CHARLIE DENVIR -1.8 72 PAR
33 ROB BRAZILL -1.9 74 +2
51 JACK MADDEN -1.3 76 +4
54 JOHN BRADY -2.2 76 +4
60 REECE BLACK -1.7 77 +5
65 ROBERT MORAN -1.3 78 +6
79 ANTHONY MCDAID -1.2 82 +10
