NIALL KEARNEY spearheaded the strong Irish challenge in the first round of the South of England Open Amateur Championship at Walton Heath in Surrey yesterday with a high-quality performance.

The 24-year-old Brabazon Trophy holder from Royal Dublin was one of only five players who broke the par of 72 on the challenging Old course – and he is now in an excellent position today to pile the pressure on his rivals as he moves to the New Course.

Kearney, a plus four-handicapper, did not put a foot wrong as he fired a 70, just a stroke behind young Stiggy Hodgson who recorded the day’s lowest score on the Old Course.

A member of the Irish team which won the European Team championships for the second year on the bounce last summer and now a Walker Cup hopeful, Kearney took advantage of the par fives on the homeward stretch birdieing two of the three.

The other four Irishmen in the field all played over the Old Course as well yesterday with Portmarnock’s James Fox doing the best of them returning 74.

Simon Ward from County Louth posted a 75 while Rathmore’s St Andrews Links Trophy winner Alan Dunbar and Paul Cutler, the hugely-talented Portstewart golfer, both went round in 76.

Leading the way on the much easier New course was Jason Palmer from Kirby Muxloe who set a course record with a nine-under-par 63 which included four birdies and an eagle on the first nine and birdied five of the last six holes.

Defending champion Luke Goddard is on 65 and still very much in contention while Wallace Booth, the Scottish Open strokeplay champion, handed in a 69 to keep in touch.

Irish scores: 70: N Kearney, 74: J Fox, 75: S Ward, 76: A Dunbar, P Cutler.