An inward 31, bettered only by surprise leader Robert Coles, enabled Paul Mc

Ginley to bounce back to form when the Sun Dutch Open began at Hilversum yesterday. The Dubliner, who was outshone by Irish rivals Darren Clarke and

Padraig Harrington during last week's British Open in which he was 65th, had a four-under-par 67 to put himself within striking distance of the 24-year-old

Coles, and Ryder Cup candidates David Gilford and Roger Chapman.

Coles had a career-best 64 with nine birdies to lead by one stroke from

Gilford, Chapman and, late in the day, Miles Tunnicliff. Chapman opened up with a blistering assault of six birdies in the first seven holes, and then finishing with an eagle.

McGinley also had an eagle to savour when he holed from 20 feet at the 12th after getting home at the par five with a three-iron. Then he added birdies from eight feet at the 14th and 18 feet at the 17th.

Had he opted for a more conservative approach, he might easily have gained another at the par five 18th which was in reach yesterday with a medium iron.

But McGinley tried to cut too much off the dogleg, and blocked his drive into the woods. His only escape route was down the first fairway and to reach that he had to hook his recovery 40 yards. He managed the Houdini-style escape and found the green with an eight-iron third shot from 145 yards, but a birdie putt from

35 feet proved beyond his capabilities.

Des Smyth opened with a 64 on this course last year, but his hopes of a repetition were dashed by a careless moment on the seventh green where he missed a 12-inch putt in taking a double bogey.

The error brought Smyth back to level par, because he had holed from 12 feet on the fourth and fifth greens. But he partially atoned by sinking a 40-foot birdie putt at the eighth to get out in 35.

His golf over the inward half was much tidier, although he had to wait until the 18th before redeeming his only other mistake, a five-wood tee shot that drifted wide of the green at the 223 yards 10th. At the par five last, Smyth was home with a four-iron, and two-putted for his fourth birdie to be round in 70.

"I am in bad shape for the first time in 20 years, and in danger of losing my card," confessed the Drogheda professional. "I need to do something good very soon, and I am working very hard on my game."

Smyth has a fall back position should he finish outside the top 115 who retain their cards for 1998 - he is currently 115th in the Volvo ranking - for he is seventh, just behind Eamonn Darcy, in category seven, the all time top 40

money list.

However that category is likely to be demoted to 11 (b) next season which would have the same effect on Smyth as failing to retain his card.

Ronan Rafferty was 92nd in the money list going into this event, but the

Ulsterman is in no immediate danger, for his Category One membership, which he obtained by winning the Volvo ranking in 1989, does not expire until the end of the 1999 season.