West of Ireland Amateur Open: The last time Stephen Grant played under an azure sky, the former Shamrock Rovers and Sunderland striker tweaked his pelvis so badly he has been in pain ever since.

But the throbbing in his lower back was almost forgotten yesterday as the 29-year-old Birr native scorched round sun-blessed Rosses Point in seven-under-par 64, carding an eagle and five birdies, to shave a stroke off the course record set by Sweden's Rikard Karlberg two years ago.

With no more than a zephyr to trouble the early starters in the first of two strokeplay qualifying rounds, Grant took full advantage of the conditions to open a two-stroke lead over Limerick's Patrick Sheehy, who had six birdies and just one bogey in a fine 66.

County Louth's Simon Ward, the 20-year-old international from Carrickmacross who reached the final of last year's Irish Close, showed he will be a contender for the title on Tuesday after a 67 left him alone in third place.

But most eyes were on defending champion Rory McIlroy, who drew a massive gallery that required the attention of four marshals as he opened with a two-under 69.

The 17-year-old Holywood star is bidding to match Joe Carr, who was the last man to complete a hat-trick of West of Ireland titles, in 1962. But he was disappointed with his putting as he mixed an eagle and three birdies with three bogeys.

"I played okay on the front but terribly on the back," McIlroy said. "The greens were really bumpy and I didn't hole anything on the back nine. I was four under after 10, had chances on 11, 12 and 13 and missed them all, and then I bogeyed the 14th."

The real fireworks came from Grant, who took up the game less than six years ago after a globe-trotting professional football career that saw him play up front for Sunderland, Shamrock Rovers, Stockport County, Burnley, Boston Bulldogs, Waterford United and Finn Harps among others.

Down to plus two and certain now to go to plus three, Grant was delighted with his effort but modestly suggested his main ambition is to make the cut as he learns the ropes in just his second season at championship level.

"I was bogey free and that is what I was delighted about," he said. "But it's been a nightmare with my back for three months now. I pulled my pelvis out when I played on a mini tour in Arizona earlier this year and I have to go in for an MRI scan next Thursday.

"It bothers me all across the lower part of my back and I am pretty worried about what it is, but hopefully I will be okay. I was never really injured playing football."

The Offaly ace, who plays regularly with former Sunderland pal Niall Quinn at the Heritage, got his round rolling when he hit a four iron to 10 feet to set up an eagle at the par-five fifth.

Birdies at the sixth, ninth, 11th and 12th put him six under, and while he missed chances of between 10 and 12 feet at the next three holes, he saved par from six feet at the 17th and then birdied the last to set the record.

Strokeplay qualifying (36 holes)

FIRST ROUND

64 - S Grant (Birr)

66 - P Sheehy (Limerick)

67 - S Ward (Co Louth)

68 - A Johnston (Brit), P Murray (Limerick), R Leonard (Banbridge), S Lowry (UCD/Esker Hills)

69 - N Grant (Knock), P McGrath (Dromoland), A Hogan (Newlands), R McIlroy (Holywood), R McNamara (Headfort)

70 - B Cashman (Belvoir Park), G Hall (Edenderry), D Coyle (Co Louth), N Kearney (Royal Dublin), R Boal (Scrabo), W McCully (Donaghadee), A McCloy (Ballymena)

71 - D Downie (Sutton), T McGowan (Strandhill), B Reddan (Co Louth), C O'Connor (UCD/Athlone), D Scully (Galway), R Kilpatrick (Banbridge), G McDermott (Co Sligo), D Vaughan (Ardglass), D Kelleher (Portmarnock), L Lennox

72 - G O'Connor (Malahide), D McNeill (Ballybofey & Stranorlar), G O'Flaherty (Cork), J Lyons (Birr), S Courtney (Brit), D Leathern (Lisburn), P Errity (Delgany), J Hurst (Brit), R McCarthy (The Island), K McCarthy (Kinsale), H Diamond (Holywood), S Doherty (Malone), A Dowling (Hermitage)

73 - R McGee (Spa), D Morgan (Mullingar), R Durnin (Laytown and Bettystown), D Crowe (Dunmurry), D Lally (Tuam), M Rowe (Glasson), K O'Neill (Strandhill), D Finn (Mallow), K Condren (Greystones), A Wilson (Cairndhu), C Curley (Newlands), S Crowe (Dunmurry), D Lenihan (UCD/Castle), A Condren (Greystones)

74 - D Boyle (Cruit Island), M Hammond (Moyola Park), P Cutler (Portstewart), J Toner (Woodbrook), G Carew (Edenderry), S Loftus (Ennis), E Saxel (Brit), P Higgins (Mullingar), J Waldron (Muskerry), J McGinn (Laytown & Bettystown), A Dunbar (Rathmore), A McCormick (Scrabo), B Galway (Cairndhu), C Cannon (Brit), S Paul (Tandragee), P Connolly (Clontarf), S Healy (Claremorris), G Boyd (Donaghadee)

75 - T Walsh (Claremorris), C Doran (Banbridge), R Brannigan (Co Louth), D Sutton (Brit), D McNamara (Connemara), G Hammill (Ardglass), D Coyne (Tuam), J McIntyre (City of Derry), B Walton (UCD/The Island), M Crowe (Elm Park), T Bruden (Brit), JP Hughes (Douglas), R Maher (Nenagh), N Gorey (Lee Valley), C Hughes (Royal Portrush), P Graham (Galgorm Castle), J Gannon (Seapoint), J Moore (Laytown & Bettystown), M Poucher (Limerick), R Williams (Baltinglass), S Miskelly (Knock), T McClements (Holywood), D McInerney (Lahinch)

76 - P Killeen (Claremorris), N Lavin (Royal Dublin), M Sinclair (Knock), E O'Sullivan (The Island), E McCormick (Galway), E Kennedy (Strabane), M Lavelle (K Club)

77 - D O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown), D Ruddy (Thurles), D Cantrell (Woodbrook), D Kneafsey (Brit), G Nugent (Kilkenny), K Kennedy (Co Tipperary), J Timoney (Headfort), J Mulready (Castle), M Kemmy (Limerick), L Butler (West Waterford)

78 - I Keane (Malahide), G Managh (Knock), M O'Connor (Elm Park), R Cannon (Laytown & Bettystown), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), M McGinley (Grange), A Meharg (Scrabo), M Horan (Birr), D Carroll (Grange), J Turner (Royal Portrush), M Thistleton (Brit)

79 - D Hogan (Killeen), M Buggy (Castlecomer), J Patterson (Knock), A Dooley (Glasson/NUIG)

80 - G Mallon (North West), D King (Tramore), JJ Coey (Clandeboye), J McNicholas (Ballyhaunis), D Brannigan (Seapoint)

81 - A Wynne (Strandhill), T Cleary (East Clare)

82 - E McAnoy (Knock), P O'Kane (Curragh)

83 - B Christie (Skerries), M King (Athenry), C Martin (Kilkenny)