Amateur golf, Challenge Tour, DP World Tour, LPGABrian KeoghNedbank Golf Challenge, Tom McKibbin, Max Homa, Nicolai Hojgaard, Dan Bradbury, Vincent Norrman, Adrian Meronk, The Annika, Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow, DP World Tour Qualifying School, Mark Power, Conor Purcell, Dermot McElroy, Ruaidhri McGee, Conor O'Rourke, Jonny Caldwell

McKibbin goes bogey-free, Leona starts well, Q-School beckons for Irish sextet

Amateur golf, Challenge Tour, DP World Tour, LPGABrian KeoghNedbank Golf Challenge, Tom McKibbin, Max Homa, Nicolai Hojgaard, Dan Bradbury, Vincent Norrman, Adrian Meronk, The Annika, Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow, DP World Tour Qualifying School, Mark Power, Conor Purcell, Dermot McElroy, Ruaidhri McGee, Conor O'Rourke, Jonny Caldwell
McKibbin goes bogey-free, Leona starts well, Q-School beckons for Irish sextet
Max Homa. Picture: Getty Images

Max Homa. Picture: Getty Images

Tom McKibbin fired just one of eight bogey-free rounds to share 20th on his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The Galgorm star (20) made two birdies in a two-under 70 to lie just four shots behind US Ryder Cup star Max Homa, Englishman Dan Bradbury, Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard and Sweden’s Vincent Norrman at Gary Player Country Club.

Homa posted a clean card in Sun City in his first start since he top-scored for the US team in Rome.

“That was mildly shocking,” the world number eight said. “I would’ve assumed I’d shoot six over before six under so it was a treat. I don’t feel like I’m swinging it amazing but my short irons are very good, I felt like I putted really awesome today. I tried to take advantage of that.

"“I was obviously pretty rusty so at the start of the round the goal was just to give myself some putts and ease my way into it. On the back nine, I started to find a little something with my driver so that was nice. I was able to be a bit more aggressive, going for the par five in two on 14, that was an advantage. I started to swing it a bit better as the day went on but I just tried to think my way around the golf course.”

The leaders sit one shot clear of Frenchman Julien Guerrier, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and Poland’s Adrian Meronk, who is currently third on the Race to Dubai and chasing a win that would keep his hopes alive of winning the season-long rankings.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire’s bogey-free, three-under 67 left her just four shots behind early leaders Jin Young Ko and Patty Tavatanakit in The Annika at Pelican Golf Club.

Maguire was inside the top 20 with Stephanie Meadow back in the pack after she double-bogeyed her final hole, the short ninth, to open with a 70.

Meadow, who is 69th in the Race to CME Globe standings, likely needs to finish 15th at worst to make the top 60 who qualify for next week’s CME Group Tour Championship.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny’s Mark Power plans to use the driver sparingly as he begins his quest for his DP World Tour card on the tricky Hills Course at Infinitum at the Final Stage of the six-round Qualifying School in Spain.

“Looking forward to getting started feeling refreshed and ready to go,” Power said. “The Hills Course is interesting. It has quite a few dog legs and there are many holes where I won’t be hitting driver off the tee. The Lakes Course is extremely different with it being a fair bit wider visually.

“Trying to place the ball in good spots off the tee will be important and playing aggressively from there will be my main approach.

The top 70 and ties after four rounds will make the cut with the top 25 and ties after two further rounds earning a DP World Tour ranking.

The two-time Walker Cup star is joined in Tarragona by Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell, Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy, Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee, Naas’ Conor O’Rourke and Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell.