Dundalk professional Leslie Walker posted a warning at The European Club yesterday that he could be a major contender for Padráig Harrington's Irish PGA Championship crown over the next four days.
Walker carded a one-under-par 70 in yesterday's championship curtain-raising pro-am tournament, two shots better than Harrington with last year's championship runner-up Brendan McGovern, former champion David Mortimer and Eddie Tracey all on 71.
It was a four-birdie, two-bogey round for Walker with his two dropped shots caused by failing to get up-and-down at the seventh and 14th holes.
A birdie three at the fifth got the leader going as he hit the green with a four wood and pitching wedge before rolling in a 12-footer. He pencilled in another three at the par four 10th where he holed from off the green and made a four at the long 13th with a drive and four wood to the surface.
A double-bogey six at the seventh hole, where knocked his drive out-of-bounds, cost Harrington a share of the lead.
"I'd like to be playing alongside Padráig on Saturday," said Walker, "but this is only the pro-am. The real stuff begins in the morning."
Irish Club Professionals' champion John Kelly led in the winning team on 87 points. The amateurs were Michael Stanley (5), Tim O'Driscoll (10) and Fergal Scofield (15). Ironically, Kelly handed in a personal NR.
Play is under way with defending champion Harrington entering the fray at 9.30am. Follow his progress and the rest of the field via live scoring from the course.