Ireland eighth in team championship

Ireland are six shots behind leaders Spain after the opening round in the PGA of Europe Team Championship at Atalaya Park on the Costa del Sol.

Each of the three Irish players - Brendan McGovern (Headfort), John Dwyer (Ashbourne) and Leslie Walker (Dundalk) - carded rounds of level par 72 with only two scores to count each day.

The Irish team total of 144 leaves them in joint eighth place along with England, Finland and Norway.

Spain are defending the title.

PGA OF EUROPE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT ATALAYA PARK, COSTA DEL SOL

138 - Spain (I Feliu 67, E FErnandez 71, C Balmaseda 73).

139 - Scotland (S Henderson n67, A Reid 72, F Mann 73).

141 - Portugal

142 - Wales (S Edwards 70, J Lee 72, L Turner 76); Italy; France; Sweden.

144 - Ireland (B McGvoern 72, J Dwyer 72, L Walker 72); England (A Hare 71,

C Goodfellow 73, B Cameron 75); Finland; Norway.