Gavin Moynihan opened with his first sub-70 round since last year’s Volopa Irish Challenge when he fired a four under 68 on day one of the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson.

Alexander Knappe shot a six under par round of 66 to lead by one from home favourites Jeff Karlsson and Sebastian Soderberg, and Irish Challenge winner Tom Murray/

Representing Mount Wolseley, Moynihan had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys on his card to end his day alongside the likes of Johan Edfors on four under. 

Ranked 135th in the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman rankings, former Walker Cup player Moynihan needs a decent week to gain some momentum for the final part of the season and more starts.

Mount Juliet’s Kevin Phelan shot a 70 that featured three successive birdies at his seventh, eighth and ninth holes.

Headfort’s Brian Casey had five birdies in an up and down 74 that also featured five bogeys and a double bogey.

Selected scores after round one

Detailed scores

66 A Knappe (Ger), 

67 T Murray (Eng), J Karlsson (Swe), S Soderberg (Swe), 

68 J Edfors (Swe), M Ortolani (Ita), Gavin Moynihan (Irl), A Maestroni (Ita), M Lindberg (Swe), 

69 A Rai (Eng), J Smith (Eng), B Stow (Eng), P Gustafsson (Swe), B Hellgren (Swe), J Wrisdale (Eng), T Detry (Bel), T Anderson (Eng), B Neil (Sco), J Lando Casanova (Fra), 

70 M Delpodio (Ita), J Dantorp (Swe), M Tullo (Chi), B Hafthorsson (Isl), O Lengden (Swe), D Huizing (Ned), R Karlsson (Swe), L Gillgren (Swe), E Dubois (Fra), P Angles (Esp), D Stewart (Sco), T Rosendahl (Swe), K Samooja (Fin), J Stalter (Fra), S Tiley (Eng), G King (Eng), T Gornik (Slo), Kevin Phelan (Irl), H Rönneblad (am) (Swe), 

74 Brian Casey (Irl).