Team Ireland's Gary Hurley completed an impressive recovery from foot surgery to lead the Irish challenge after the opening round of the Alps Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Just two months after going under the knife, the West Waterford man (26) made five birdies in three-under 69 on the Asia Course at La Cala to share 17th place in the race to finish in the top 35 and ties after three rounds.

Scores

A Walker Cup winner with Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan, Cormac Sharvin and Jack Hume in 2015, Hurley has so far struggled to make his mark in the paid ranks.

After deciding to revamp his swing, he made just one cut from seven starts on the Challenge Tour this year and feared his 2019 season was over when he had surgery on the third metatarsal bone in his foot  just nine weeks ago.

“I’ve worked hard to get back as soon as possible,” Hurley said. “It’s still not 100% yet but it’s pretty good.”

He lies just five shots off the lead alongside Ulsterman Peter Dallat, who shot a three-under 68 on the America Course at the Malaga venue.

Michael Dallat and Damian Murphy were joint 40th after carding one-under 70s on the America Course, but Simon Bryan and Galway's Ronan Mullarney were tied 81st after one-over-par rounds of 73 and 72 respectively.