Brendan McGovern and Damian Mooney broke par to keep their hopes alive of winning one of five cards after the opening day at the Final Stage of the Legends Tour Qualifying School in Turkey.

Headfort professional McGovern made four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under 70 over the Old Course at Gloria Golf Resort to share sixth place.

Scores

He’s just two strokes behind England’s David Shacklady and Simon Griffiths and Spain’s Carl Suneson, whose four-under 68s gave them a one-stroke lead over England’s Mark Wharton and American Jeff Williams.

Lough Erne professional Mooney made four birdies and three bogeys in a 71 to share 13th place, two strokes outside the top five.

But it was a tougher day at the office for Waterville’s David Higgins and Offaly amateur Joe Lyons from Galway Golf Club.

Higgins was three over after seven holes but birdied the fifth and seventh to post a one-over 73 that leaves him tied 32nd.

Lyons shot a five-over 77, dropping four shots in a costly three-hole stretch in the middle of his round, and shares 64th place in the 74-man field.

The top five players at the conclusion of the Final Stage will earn full playing rights for the 2023 Legends Tour season, giving them the opportunity to play alongside greats of the game including Pádraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley.