IRELAND'S Michael Murphy shot a first round two under par 70 to lead the Irish challengers for the European Senior Classic being played on the Neil Coles designed Castle Royle course near Maidenhead. The Baltinglass professional had four birdies in two neat halves of 35 to stand four behind leader John Morgan's record setting six under 66.

Liam Higgins is a shot behind Murphy on 71. He engaged in a typical roller coaster round over the sun baked fairways, mixing seven birdies with three bogeys and a disastrous triple bogey seven at the short par four third.