Hickey heads Irish at Alps Tour Q-School

Cork’s John Hickey. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork's John Hickey is the best of the Irish after the opening round at the First Stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School at La Cala Resort in Malaga.

The former Munster interprovincial opened with a one-over 72 at the America Course to share 19th place, five shots behind amateurs Inigo Carmona Ybarra of Spain and Thomas Thurloway of England.

French amateur Theo Brizard shot a five-under 67 on the Asia Course to lead by one stroke from Sweden's Oliver Jacobsson with Damian Murphy tie for 37th after a 76.

Rhys Clarke did well to card a five-over 76 at the America Course after following a triple-bogey eight at the ninth with a quadruple-bogey eight at the 10th, ending the day tied for 38th.

Offaly's Brian McCormack is tied 23rd at the Europa Course on five-over. The Royal Dublin professional shot a 76 at a venue where England's Benjamin Bailey posted a five-under 66 to lead by two shots.

The 75 qualifiers from the First Stage will tee it up at the Final Stage over the America and Asia courses at La Cala from December 19-21.

Hickey, Murphy, Clarke and McCormack will be hoping to join the already exempt Gary Hurley, Ronan Mullarney, Simon Bryan and Peter and Michael Dallat in the 54-hole battle for 35 full category cards for the 2020 Alps Tour season.