PGA Europro Tour — Asian Tour regular Niall Turner fired a five under par 67 to lie just two shots off the lead after the opening round of the Great National Hotels Irish Masters, Ballykisteen Golf & Country Club.

The Muskerry man made eight birdies to head the Irish contingent at the Tipperary track as England's James Ruth carded a bogey-free 65 to lead by one shot from Greg Payne.

Turner ended the day tied for third with Dermot McElroy, Stephen Grant and Brian Casey the next best of the Irish with two under par 70s.

Great National Hotels Irish Masters, Ballykisteen Golf & Country Club (Par 72)

Detailed scores

65 James Ruth  (China Fleet Country Club)

66 Greg Payne  (Camberley Heath / MindSet4Golf)

Irish

67 Niall Turner (Unattached)

69 Cian McNamara  (Monkstown);  Mark Staunton (Delgany )

70 Dermot McElroy  (Ballymena); Stephen Grant  (Mount Juliet); Brian Casey (BLACKSTAR); David Rawluk  (The Island)    

71 Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Limited); David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links); Reeve Whitson (Royal County Down); Brendan McCarroll  (Narin & Portnoo ); Tim Rice  (Limerick)

72 David Carey (Unattached); Declan Loftus (Unattached); Damien McGrane (Unttached)

73 Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre); Brian McElhinney (North West); Joe Dillon (Headfort); Michael McGeady (LDN Pharma Ltd)

74 Niall Kearney (The Royal Dublin); Michael Durcan (Beverley and East Riding GC); Gavin Moynihan (Mount Wolseley Golf Resort); Steven Quinlan  (Halpenny Golf)

75 Peter Williamson (Unattached)

77 Ger Hall (Edenderry Golf Academy)

79 Nial Kearns (Omagh)

80 Simon Bryan (Delgany)

85 David Ruddy (Ballykisteen)