Higgins in the hunt

Waterville's David Higgins leads the Irish charge at the European Challenge Tour's BA-CA Golf Open presented by Telekom Austria, carding an opening round of three under par 68.

Higgins will have to keep it up if he is to keep in touch with early pace setter Johan Kok of South Africa, whose course record 63 leads by one from the English duo of Mark Sanders and Sam Walker.

Phillip Walton got round in level par 71 without a practice round, with Belfast's Michael Hoey and Dubliner Stephen Browne respectively three and four shots behind Ryder Cup winner Walton after rounds of 74 and 75.