American John McGough, at 50 the oldest man in the field, upstaged many younger players when he shared the first-round lead in the European Tour stage one qualifier at Carden Park, near Chester today.
The professional from Fresh Meadow, Illinois, rolled in seven birdies on the tight Cheshire course to post a five-under-par 67 matched by James Holmes, from Crewe, and Phil Edwards who is attached to Nottinghamshire club Springwater.
They were a shot ahead of Welshman Yestyn Taylor while among five players on 69 was John Mellor, who is attached to Sheffield club Lindrick and bidding to regain the card he forfeited when he was struck down by an over-active thyroid three years ago.
Best of the Irish was Chris Devlin at three-under two shots off the lead, while Walker Cup players Colm Moriarty, Noel Fox carded one-over and two-over respectively.
The rest of the Irish: Raymond Burns (-2), David Higgins (-2), Ciaran McMonagle (-1), Gavin Lunny (par), Eamon Brady (+1), Daniel Sugrue (+1), David Jones (+2), Michael Collins (+2), Padraig Dooley (+2), David Carroll +2, Damien Mooney (+3), Michael Hoey (+3), Paddy Gribben (+3), Richie Coughlan (+3), Justin Kehoe (+3), Mark Murphy (+5), Eoin Barton (+8), Conor Mallon (+8).