The first round of the Irish Club Professionals Championship at Nuremore yesterday had to be abandoned because of the weather. In mid-afternoon, following continuous rain from mid-day, the action was suspended, and eventually the secretary of the PGA Irish Region, Michael McCumiskey, had to call a halt.

A dozen competitors had failed to complete their rounds, with some having played only a few holes and others taking two hours for five holes. Those competitors will return at 8.0 a.m. today.

Meanwhile, Gary McNeill was overnight leader of those who had finished with a two-under-par 69 to be one shot clear of Gordon Morrison and John Langan.

McNeill, the head coach at the MacGregor Golf Academy at City West, collected two birdies and two bogeys on his way to the turn. But he had a storming finish, birdying the last two.

Defending champion Neil Manchip from Royal County Down is in a group on level par 71, along with Robert Giles, who played all four rounds in the British Open Championship last week.

Irish Club Professionals Championship (at Nuremore) - Leading scores (first round to be completed): 69 - G McNeill (MacGregor Golf Academy). 70 - J Langan (Milltown), G Morrison (Nenagh). 71 - E Logue (Lisburn), N Manchip (Royal Co Down), R Giles (Warrenpoint), J Dignam (Slade Valley), D Walker (Foxrock). 72 - M Allen (Foxrock), B McGovern (Headfort), D MacFarlane (East Cork), W Dhommee (Harbour Pt). 73 - B Hamill (Grange), L McCool (Slieve Russell), P Stevenson (Portadown), P McGuirk (Co Louth), K Dorrian (Legends). 74 - C Barry (Leopardstown), N Callen (City of Derry), G Chambers (Killymoon), P Collins (Royal Co Down), D McSweeney (Limerick Co). 75 - D Mooney (Laganview), C Carroll (Co Cavan), M Cassidy (Nuremore), P Gittens (Corrstown), K Herbert (Howth), J Robinson (Ballyearl).