Foxrock professional David Walker has taken a major stride towards winning the £12,000 Ulster PGA Championship at Blackwood, shooting a five-under-par 66 in yesterday's opening round of the 36-holes event. He could become the first player from the Republic to take the honours as the championship was never before thrown open to players outside Ulster.

"It is great to get off to a good start," enthused David. "It makes life easier in the final round. I found the greens very good."

Six birdies decorated Walker's card with just one bogey - a five at the 10th that was playing long into the light wind. Biting at the heels of Walker is Royal County Down assistant Philip Collins who posted a 67 with five birdies included.

Four players share 68 with local assistant Scott Kirkpatrick refusing to let a double-bogey seven at the second hole upset him. He took four shots to the green and then three-putted, but quickly recovered the lost ground with birdie threes at the fourth, fifth and eight to be one-under-par at the turn. Further birdies flew at the 11th, 13th and 14th, but he lost a shot at the short 12th.

Stephen Hamill, winner at Lurgan six years ago, fired a course-record 62 in Monday's pro-am tournament, but took 10 more shots yesterday while Jimmy Heggarty, another ex-double champion, shot a 70.