Sports Digest/GOLF:Northern Ireland's Damian Mooney stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a seven-under-par 65 at Costa Ballena after the first round of Stage Two of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.
That left him two clear of James Morrison of England and Australia's Adam Bland.
Another notable Irish performance was Simon Thornton's 69 at Catalunya, which left him in a share of fifth place.
At Arcos Gardens, former British Open silver-medal winner David Dixon eased to the front with a five-under 67, two ahead of England's Matthew Cort, Welshman Ryan Thomas, South Africa's Michael Bothma and Finland's Tuomas Tuovinen.
Ireland's Gareth Maybin, who will form part of the two-man Irish side for the World Cup in China later this month, had to settle for a one-over 73.
But former British Amateur champion Michael Hoey, who will team up with Maybin in the World Cup, struggled to a 75 at Ballena.
Wales's Mark Mouland, a two-time winner on the European Tour, posted a three-under 69, with Walker Cup player Rhys Davies and Elliot Saltman a stroke further back on 70.
Englishman Gareth Davies leads the way at the PGA Golf de Catalunya after a six-under 66.
Davies's compatriot Lawrence Dodd shares third on 68.
O'Sullivan milestone
GOLF:Denis O'Sullivan will become the first senior Irishman to break the €1-million barrier in career earnings after he has completed the Seniors Tour Championship at the Buckinghamshire.
The 59-year-old from Cork, who turned professional in 1997, has won €999,056 from his decade competing on the European Seniors Tour - and has arrived in England for the season-ending event guaranteed surpassing €1 million, for the last-place prize in the elite 42-man field contest is €1,742.
The 54-hole tournament begins today.
Des Smyth, winner of the Wentworth Senior Masters in August, and Eamonn Darcy, seven times a runner-up on the circuit, also compete.
O'Brien takes scalp
SNOOKER:World champion John Higgins crashed to a shock defeat at the Northern Ireland Trophy last night when he was upset 5-4 by Dublin's Fergal O'Brien, who, facing the exit door himself, hit back with two century breaks to progress to the last 16 stage at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.
Trailing 4-3, O'Brien compiled a tournament-high break of 142 and then pocketed a pressure break of 114 to make sure of his place in the next round of the €300,000 event.
"I thought John played well, but it doesn't get any better than knocking in two tons to beat the world number one and world champion," said O'Brien, winner of the 1999 British Open.
