The Offaly golfer sits comfortably in the top ten of the Irish Open.
Clara man Shane Lowry has moved in to contention for this year's Horizon Irish Open at the K Club.
The 2009 champion shot a four under par 68 to finish day one firmly in the top ten.
Lowry opened with a birdie on the par five 10th, and would go on to make two more birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
He was set for a 67 by his 18th hole, but a bogey finish left him two shots off the current lead held jointly by Thomas Bjorn, Jordan Smith, and Ross Fisher.
Lowry says it was a good day's work, all in all:
Rory McIlroy is just a shot further back after carding a 69.
Padraig Harrington, Seamus Power, and Tom McKibbin are still out on course, Power is on two under through 13, McKibbin is level par, with Harrington one over after 15.
The Irish Open is brought to you by Keenan Bauer Motors Mullingar - Your home for Citroen and Honda in the Midlands – See Keenanbauer.com
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