Mini tours: Grant best on ECCO, Ward on Gecko, McGee on Algarve

The par-three 11th at PGA Catalunya Resort

ECCO Tour — Birr's Stephen Grant shot a super two under 70 on the tough Stadium Course at PGA Catalunya Resort to share 14th spot after the opening round of the Mediter Real Estate Masters.

The former footballer, now a highly talented pro golfer was one over with six to play after a double bogey seven at the third, his 12th, but recovered with a birdie at the fourth and an eagle three at the uphill, par-five seventh to end the day five shots behind former Walker Cup player Wallace Booth of Scotland. Scores

Booth shot a seven under 63 on the easier Tour Course to lead by a shot from Norway's Eirik Tage Johansen, who shot a six under 64 on the same track.

Headfort's Brian Casey, the 2012 Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner, carded a level par 72 on the Stadium to share 31st but Carton House and Hermitage amateur David Carey has work to do to make the cut.

With the top 45 and ties to make the third and final round, Carey's three over 75 on the Stadium Course left him two shots outside the projected mark. Mike Kelly, who carded an 83 on the Tour course, has a mountain to climb.

Solid start today in Ecco Tour tournament in PGA Catalunya,I shot 2 under on The Stadium course with a 7🙈play Tour Course 2moro in round 2⛳️

— stephen grant (@soccer2golf) March 10, 2015

Gecko Pro Tour — Simon Ward had one bogey and 17 pars in a 72 at Baviera Golf near Malaga to lie four shots off the pace after the opening round. Scores

Matt McAlpin is tied 36th after a four over 75 with Gary Walsh 45th after a 78. Rory McNamara did not enter.

Algarve Pro Tour — Rosapenna's Ruaidhri McGee was second behind Belgium's Hugues Joannes in the 36 hole Quinta do Vale Pro Am.

The Challenge Tour player from Derry shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish two shots behind Joannes on seven under par. Scores