Ireland's Walker Cup player Paddy Gribben made a lacklustre start to the defence of his European Amateur title over the Wentworth Hills course in Newport yesterday.

Gribben began hesitantly, dropping strokes on two of the first three holes and got to the turn in three-over-par 39. Things did get better on the way home and he covered the back nine in 36 for a score of 75.

"It really wasn't good enough because conditions today are not that bad," said Gribben, who is nine strokes behind first round leader Dion Stevens, a 26-year-old Australian.

Stevens had a brilliant 66 yesterday to take the lead in the weather-interrupted first round. He is one stroke clear of Denmark's Thomas Havemann.

Leading Irishman is Beaverstown's Garry Cullen who completed his round on Wednesday night, matching the par of 72 to keep himself in touch with the pace and in with a chance of grabbing a medal in this most prestigious of amateur tournaments.

Eamon Brady and Ken Kearney are not completely out of the hunt, ready to pounce should the leaders falter after they both took 74 yesterday.