Galway’s Ronan Mullarney opened with a two-under 69 to lie just two shots off the lead at the Alps Tour Qualifying School First Stage at Acaya Golf Club in Lecce.

Scores

With the PGA EuroPro Tour now defunct, the former Irish Close champion is one of several former Europro Tour players looking to secure playing rights on the Alps Tour for 2023.

The exact number of players who will advance from the three First Stage venues will be confirmed once the action starts at the other two venues on Thursday.

Around 13 players will progress from Acaya where Mullarney is two shots behind England’s Marcus Mohr.

Gary McGrane and John Hickey are tied for 10th after five-over 76s with Joseph Hanney tied for 17th after a 77.

Around 25 players are expected to get through at Miglianico Golf & Country Club in Pescara where Daniel Mulligan, Tom Dowdall and Paul Murphy tee it up from Thursday,

There are no Irish players in the draw at  Le Fonti, where 26 around expected to get through.

The Final Stage is set for Golf Nazionale & Olgiata from November 9-11 with several more Irish players entered, including Alps Tour regulars  Robin Dawson, Simon Bryan, Paul McBride and Michael Young.

McBride’s presence will depend on how he fares at the Second Stage of the DP World Taur Q-School in Spain this week.

Jonathan Yates, winner of the Alps Tour Grand Final, goes at Isla Canela Links in Huelva while Gary Hurley, Stuart Grehan, Paul McBride and Conor Purcell go at Emporda Golf in Girona.

Desert Springs in Almeria is the venue for Ruaidhri McGee, Gavin Moynihan, Conor O'Rourke and amateur Robert Moran while Niall Kearney, Dermot McElroy and Cormac Sharvin will be in action at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Alicante.