Niall Kearney emerged from a three-week break refreshed and re-energised as the 33-year-old Dubliner – in the form of his life – shot a course record seven-under-par 65 to assume the first round lead in the Dutch Open at Bernardus Golf Club in Cromvoirt.
A bogey-free seven birdie haul propelled the former Walker Cup player one-stroke clear of the field.
Since turning professional in 2009, Kearney has mainly competed on the developmental mini-tours and on the Challenge Tour. He has reached a new level with his game this season, impacting on the European Tour in his quest to gain a full card for next season.
Currently 128th on the Race to Dubai, and looking to break into the leading 110 by the end of the season to to secure full rights, the Royal Dublin player found the links-style conditions to his liking as he claimed a one-stroke lead over Denmark's Martin Simonsen and Germany's Max Kieffer.
“It’s got a links feel to it, I felt right at home,” said Kearney who claimed that the break since his last outing at the Czech Masters had benefited him as he heads into the home straight of the season. “I feel rested somewhat and enjoyed my golf,” added Kearney, who holed a 30-footer for birdie on the 18th to claim the lead.
“This year has been positive for me. I have had a lot of good finishes and put myself in the right spaces and I have grown in confidence from it. I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable which is great.”
It was a much tougher battle for the other Irish players in the field, with Europe Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell signing for a one-under-par 71. Gavin Moynihan (72), Cormac Sharvin (73), James Sugrue (74) and Paul Dunne (76) have work to do to make the midway cut.
Leaderboard
British and Irish unless stated, par 72
65 Niall Kearney
66 Maximilian Kieffer (Ger), Martin Leth Simonsen (Den)
67 Sam Horsfield, Thomas Detry (Bel), Ricardo Santos (Por), Aaron Cockerill (Can), Rhys Enoch, Ben Evans, Marcus Helligkilde (Den), Santiago Tarrio (Esp), Euan Walker
68 Brandon Stone (Rsa), Justin Harding (Rsa), Matthias Schmid (Ger), Sven Maurits (Ned), David Horsey, Alejandro Canizares (Esp), Kristoffer Broberg (Swe), Marcel Siem (Ger), Wilco Nienaber (Rsa), Ondrej Lieser (Cze), Paul Peterson (USA)
69 Chris Wood, Dean Burmester (Rsa), George Coetzee (Rsa), Romain Langasque (Fra), Thomas Pieters (Bel), Philip Bootsma (Ned), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Louis de Jager (Rsa), Max Schmitt (Ger), Anton Karlsson (Swe), Berry Henson (USA), Ajeetesh Sandhu (Ind)
70 Matt Ford, Steven Brown, Shubhankar Sharma (Ind), Johannes Veerman (USA), Rory Sabbatini (Svk), Freddy Schott (Ger), Mike Toorop (Ned), Andrew Johnston, Peter Hanson (Swe), Robin Roussel (Fra), Adrien Saddier (Fra), Jake McLeod (Aus), Clement Sordet (Fra), Jens Fahrbring (Swe), Ricardo Gouveia (Por), Steven Tiley, Nicolai von Dellingshausen (Ger), Jordan Wrisdale, Gary Stal (Fra), Chase Hanna (USA)
71 Richard Mansell, Joachim B. Hansen (Den), Graeme McDowell, Nordin van Tilburg (Ned), Rowin Caron (Ned), Jazz Janewattananond (Tha), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Joel Stalter (Fra), Oliver Farr, Ben Stow, Lee Slattery, Daan Huizing (Ned), Josh Geary (Nzl), Jacques Kruyswijk (Rsa), Alexander Knappe (Ger), Daniel Young, Angus Flanagan
72 Branden Grace (Rsa), Joost Luiten (Ned), Renato Paratore (Ita), Ryan Fox (Nzl), David Law, Dario Antonisse (Ned), Ralph Miller (Ned), David Drysdale, Darius van Driel (Ned), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), David Coupland, Garrick Porteous, Robin Sciot-Siegrist (Fra), Benjamin Poke (Den), Toby Tree, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Tha), Joel Sjoeholm (Swe), Gavin Moynihan, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Esp), Craig Howie
73 Daniel van Tonder (Rsa), Lucas Bjerregaard (Den), Joakim Lagergren (Swe), Ashley Chesters, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita), Oliver Fisher, Jack Senior, Cormac Sharvin, Sebastian Garcia (Esp), Maverick Antcliff (Aus), Niklas Lemke (Swe), Pedro Figueiredo (Por), Lars van Meijel (Ned), Kristoffer Reitan (Nor), Emilio Cuartero (Esp), Koen Kouwenaar (Ned)
74 James Sugrue, Zander Lombard (Rsa), Romain Wattel (Fra), Wil Besseling (Ned), Matthew Baldwin, Tom Gandy (IoM), Deyen Lawson (Aus), Davey Porsius (Ned)
75 Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Shiv Chawrasia (Ind), Carlos Pigem (Esp), Bryce Easton (Rsa), Eduardo de la Riva (Esp), Pep Angles (Esp), Tyler Koivisto (USA), Damien Perrier (Fra), Janne Kaske (Fin), Jesper Sandborg (Swe)
76 Jorge Campillo (Esp), Felix van Dijk (Ned), Lars van der Vight (Ned), Wouter Ger Vries (Ned), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Paul Dunne, Philip Eriksson (Swe), Stan Kraai (Ned)
77 Elvis Smylie (Aus), Max Albertus (Ned), Robin Petersson (Swe), Aaron Zemmer (Ita)
78 Kiet van der Weele (Ned), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Esp), Liam Johnston
79 Haydn Porteous (Rsa), Lars Keunen (Ned)
85 Gavin Green (Mal)
