Challenge Tour:  Michael McGeady carded a fine opening six-under-par 66 that included an eagle two after holing a sand wedge approach to lead the Challenge Tour's Lexus Open today.

The Donegal professional last week followed the example of his friend and countryman Colm Moriarty by switching coaches to Brendan McDaid and has seen immediate dividends at the Miklagard Golf Club in Norway.

Moriarty made a huge breakthrough by winning the FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge several weeks ago under the tutelage of McDaid.

McGeady had been "playing horrifically all season", but after a session with McDaid has rediscovered his confidence.

"I speak to Colm a lot and saw what Brendan had done for his game," said McGeady. "I liked what Colm had to say about Brendan and the kind of things he liked to work on so I went to see him and it has been great so far. I am playing with a lot more confidence."

While McGeady was forging into the lead in Norway, Moriarty and Michael Hoey were flying the Irish flag at the Challenge Tour's other event this week - the Rolex Trophy in Switzerland.

Moriarty and Hoey are the only two Irishmen in an elite 39 man field at the Golf Club de Genève and posted respective first rounds of three-under 69 and 71 respectively.

The Welsh duo of Liam Bond and Stuart Manley, along with Argentina's Juan Abbate, lead in Switzerland on five-under.

Other Irish interest in the Lexus Open saw David Jones shoot an opening 74, two better than Justin Kehoe, while Tim Rice struggled to a 79.