DUNCAN STEWART SHARES EUROPRO LEAD IN IRELAND

Good news for the investors in Duncan Stewart  (they included Paul Lawrie!) - the man from Grantown on Spey figured in a five-way tie for the lead on two-under-par 70 at the end of a rain-disrupted first day on this week's EuroPro Tour event at Concra Wood Golf and Country Club, Castleblainey in Ireland's County Monaghan.

Stewart, pictured, a winner on the circuit last year and a former US college team-mate of Russell Knox, birdied the long first, the third, the short sixth, the long 13th and the long 15th but dropped shots at the second, fifth and short 14th.

He is tied with Englishmen Lee Clarke, Andrew Willey and George Woolgar, as well as Ireland's Paul O'Hanlon.

Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) bogeyed the last for a 71 and a share of sixth

Wallace Booth (Comrie) bogeyed the 16th and 18th for a 73 and joint 28th place.

John Henry (Clydebank and District) had a 74 and Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) a 75.

Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) returned a 76.

Late finishers Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links), Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) shot 76-77-77 respectively.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72

70 Lee Clarke (Eng), Paul O'Hanlon (Ire), Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Andrew Willey (Eng), George Woolgar (Eng).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

71 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links).

73 Wallace Booth (Comrie).

74 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist)

75 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links)

76 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).
77 Chris Kelly (Cawder)