SALISBURY golfers Gary Emerson and Andy Beal were locked in a tie for third place after the first round of the North West of Ireland Open yesterday.

Both men powered around the County Calan course in 67 - five under par - and for Beal it was a glorious re-awakening after a season wrecked by injury.

Beal had a run of four birdies between the 12th and 15th while Emerson (pictured), who needs just one more big finish to earn European Tour exemption for next year, picked up shots at four of his first six holes.

Setting the pace at six under were Spaniards Luis Claverie and Jose Manuel Lara.

Southampton's Richard Bland took the great leap on to the European PGA Tour stage in his stride. The six-times Hampshire Open champion from the Stoneham club normally plays on the European Challenge Tour but was determined to make the most of a rare outing with the big boys, carding a one under par 71.

It was a good effort after an edgy start in which Bland, who lives at Marchwood, dropped three shots in his first three holes. He battled back with five birdies, three of them coming in his last six holes.

Steve Richardson recovered his composure after a high-scoring exit from the British Masters with a 71 while Matt Blackey, who used to partner Bland in the Hampshire amateur team, was nicely placed to end a run of missed cuts after shooting a level par 72.

Basingstoke's Scott Watson, another having a rare outing in a main tour event, had a nightmare start slumping to five over after eight holes. But he played his last ten holes in four under par including an eagle three at the 512-yard fifth for a 73.

But that same fifth hole proved Justin Rose's undoing. He double bogied it after opening up with four pars and eventually finished up with a 74 and much to do to beat the cut.

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