Impressive start for McIlroy

IRISH Amateur Champion Rory McIlroy made an impressive European Challenge Tour debut at the Morson International Pro-Am in Manchester yesterday.

He carded a one under par 69 to put his professional countrymen in the shade and lead the Irish challenge at the €150,000 event.

The 16 year old from Holywood in Co Down, continued the phenomenal year that has seen him win the Irish Amateur at Westport and the West of Ireland Amateur, as well as finishing fourth in the European Amateur Championship in Belgium last weekend, with an outstanding first round performance - given that most of it was play amidst incessant rain.

Colm Moriarty was the next best Irishman (two over par) in the field led by England's Matthew Morris, who carded a course record seven under par 63 at the Marriott Worsley Park Hotel and Country Club. Justin Kehoe,

David Higgins and Tim Rice are respectively three, four and five over, with Northern Ireland's Ricky Elliot on seven over par.