Irish PGA Championship: It was an endurance test, a mental and physical examination over a demanding layout exacerbated by rain. Factor in the torturous pace of play, five hours and 45 minutes to negotiate the 18 holes, and it was hardly surprising there weren't many chipper expressions on the faces of those who suffered the opening round of the PGA Irish Championship over the PGA National course at Palmerstown Stud.

Most of the participants could offer a tale of woe, some could have managed a chapter, one or two a book of calamities.

As the twilight descended two players stood at the top of the leaderboard, Cathal Barry from the Paddock Wood Driving range in Dundalk and Padraig Harrington. They were the only players to break par, shooting one under the card 71s.

Barry, formerly of Donabate Golf Club, turned in two over, but birdies at 10, 11 and 14 allowed him to post a superb score. In the first threeball on the course, the pace of play wouldn't have been an issue.

"I'm not playing a great deal, not scoring too well (before today), but playing quite well."

Two years ago in the same tournament, at Adare Manor, he led for most of the first day until David Higgins eclipsed his score. This time it was Harrington who caught him. The world ranked number 12 player put behind him the news that a new set of clubs, which he was due to use for the first time at the Dunhill Links, had been stolen in the north of England on Tuesday night.

About €15,000 worth of golf equipment was appropriated by the thieves, including Harrington's new set of Wilson irons, a new Wilson hybrid driver and a bag bearing his name.

Yesterday, though, the defending champion was preoccupied with more pressing concerns, namely trying to concentrate while tired, wet and hungry.

He did an admirable job and could afford a bogey on the last. After hooking his drive into the water on the left, he dropped out, came up short of the green but chipped to 18 inches to rescue a five when a larger score loomed.

"I feel I should have done better because I putted so well, but the conditions were tough and I should be happy with that score," he said.

Two shots further back are Peter Lawrie and 25-year-old former Boys' and Youths' international Gary Wardlow from Belfast, who recorded four birdies in a 73.

For Lawrie it was a case of grinding out a score and trying to discipline his errant driver.

"It was about trying to keep your head on and not do too many things wrong. I kept it together but didn't play particularly well."

There was a school of thought among the players that there should have been preferred lies given the conditions.

Damien McGrane would have championed the preferred lie issue. "It was difficult out there. In my opinion the PGA should have had placing on the fairways because they are not that good and very damp."

McGrane refused to buckle after losing a ball on the second, and two holes later running up another double bogey when he failed to clear the water with a five-iron. Four over after as many holes, he played the last 14 in two under. "I suppose 74 is level par out there today, especially considering you can blow yourself out of it out there.

"I had a couple of chances, 17 and 18 for birdies, but missed from about 15 feet on each occasion. (Mind you) level par would have been an incredible score after my antics earlier on."

The meteorologists have suggested the weather will be more clement today, which should help address the pace of play. At one stage yesterday there were five threeballs on the second hole: one on the green, one on the fairway and three on the tee box, rendering it reminiscent of a scene in Zulu Dawn.