Damien Mooney led the four-strong Irish challenge after the delayed first round of the final stage of European Tour qualifying in Spain today.
The Belfast golfer only started his first round today after frost on the PGA Catalunya Tour Course had disrupted play on Saturday.
Starting on the back nine, Mooney traded in two early birdies with back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th to turn in level terms. He would make further gains on the first and seventh to sign for a two-under 68 and a share of 20th position.
Simon Thornton let a good round slip away with three closing birdies at the tougher Stadium Course. The former Royal Co Down pro had shared the lead after the nine holes he played on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth.
Faced with strong winds today, Thornton failed to keep the hot streak going, with four bogeys over his closing six holes and just a single birdie on the 15th seeing him card a level-par 72 that leaves him in a tie for 62nd place.
Athlone’s Colm Moriarty also suffered late at the Stadium Course, a double-bogey five at the short eight cancelling out the two birdies he had picked up at the sixth and seventh. It meant he finished on two over and a tie for 101st spot.
Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney is four over after a 76 dropping three shots in the six holes he had to play today to complete his first round.
England’s Steve Lewton leads after a seven-under 63 at the Tour Course and is two shots clear of Australia’s Andrew Tampion and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin.
The top 30 and ties at the end of six rounds will earn cards for the 2011 European Tour.