Mooney and McGuirk head the field in Essex - 02/04/2007

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TWO players share the lead after a difficult opening day in the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event.

More than 160 men are competing in the seventh tournament of the season, which is being played at Stoke-by-Nayland in Leavenheath, Essex, but only 12 managed scores under par.

Northern Ireland's Damian Mooney (pictured right), a top ten finisher at Bovey Castle last week, was again in good form as he registered a total of three-under, to become the early clubhouse leader.

But he was soon joined out in front by Francis McGuirk (Princes Golf Club, Kent), whose round of 69 was his best so far in the 2007 season.

Lloyd Kennedy has already performed well at Stoke-by-Nayland once this season as he finished first in the pre-qualifying event that was held there in April.

The Chelmsford golfer obviously likes the course as he fired a day one score of two-under, which included an eagle at the par-four 311-yard ninth and left him in third position.

Elsewhere, New Zealander Todd Nicholson, who travels to the events in a camper van he bought so he could play on the tour, finished first at the final qualifying school in Frilford Heath in April but has suffered a miserable time since.

Tuesday was no better for Nicholson as he again looks certain to miss the cut after a nightmare round of 15-over that included a ten at the par-four eighth and an eight at the par-four first.

James Conteh, the son of former world light-heavyweight boxing champion John Conteh, could live to regret a double-bogey on the tenth. He ended the day on two-over but will need a good round on Wednesday if he is to play in the last day for the first time this season.

Once again the tournament is being filmed for television and will appear in a two-hour highlights package on Sky Sports on Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12.

The next event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season will be held at The Players Club, Bristol, from Tuesday, July 17 to Thursday, July 19.

Date posted: June 27, 2007.