Michael McGeady and Joe Dillon made sub-par starts the first First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.

Evolve Golf Coaching professional McGeady fired four birdies in a two-under 70 at Fleesensee in Germany to share ninth place, just three strokes behind Finland’s Lauri Ruuska with Glasson’s Colm Moriarty tried 30th after a two-over 74.

Dillon made three birdies in a one-under 71 at The Players Club in Bristol to share seventh place, five shots behind Welshman James Frazer with Neil O’Briain tied 10th on level par after a 72.

Brendan McCarroll had three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys in a 75 to share 34th with Mount Juliet’s Luke Donnelly bouncing back bravely from going triple bogey, double bogey at the first two holes to play the remainder in level par with five birdies on his card for a 77.

He’s tied 47th and still in with a chance but it will be tougher for North West’s Brian McElhinney who is tied 67th after a 79.

There’s a long way to go before these players can win European Tour or Challenge Tour card. The top 25 players after six rounds of Final Stage will earn their European Tour card for the 2019 season.

The number of players who advance to the Second Second Stage from each of this week’s venue has yet to be announced but

European Tour Qualifying School - First Stage

Sep 11-14 — First Stage Europe Section A Fleesensee, Germany

Scores

70 Michael McGeady

74 Colm Moriarty

First Stage Europe Section A The Players Club, Bristol, England

Scores

71 Joe Dillon

72 Neil O’Briain

75 Brendan McCarroll

77 Luke Donnelly

79 Brian McElhinney

Sep 18-21 — First Stage Europe Section B Stoke by Nayland

1. Colin Fairweather

2. Kieran Lynch

3. Dermot McElroy

Sep 18-21 — First Stage Europe Section B GolfClub Schloss Ebreichsdorf. Austria

1. Peter Dallat

2. Stephen Grant

Sep 25-28 — First Stage Europe Section C Golf Club Bogogno, Italy

1. Cameron Raymond

Oct 09-12 — First Stage Europe Section D Golf d’Hardelot, France

1. Peter Williamson

Oct 09-12 — First Stage Europe Section D Bom Sucesso, Óbidos, Portugal

1. Jonathan Caldwell

2. David Carey

3. Conor O’Rourke

4. Jonathan Yates