Armitage sets course record as Irish contingent struggle in Mallorca

England's Marcus Armitage set a new course record of 63 to lead by one shot on the opening day of the Mallorca Open.

The Salford-born 35-year-old, 68th in the DP World Tour rankings, fired eight birdies in a bogey-free first round at Son Muntaner Golf Club in Palma.

Armitage, attached to Howley Hall Golf Club in Leeds, birdied the second, fifth, eighth and ninth holes to sit four-under after the outward nine and sank four more - at the 11th, 12th, 15th and 17th - on his way back in.

He sits one shot ahead of the Netherlands' Daan Huizing, who eagled the par-five 17th and birdied the last, and two ahead of Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard, Austria's Lukas Nemecz and Spain's Alejandro Canizares, who all shot 65s.

It was a difficult opening day for Irish trio Niall Kearney, Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin.

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Kearney is best placed following a one-over round of 72.

The Dubliner started on the back foot with a bogey at the first with a birdie at the third and a bogey at the seventh also recorded on the front nine.

Back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th had Kearney briefly under par, but bogeys followed at the 14th and 17th.

Caldwell is a shot back on two-under as he was unable to maintain his hot start.

Like Kearney, he bogeyed his first hole but three birdies in four holes saw him shoot up the leaderboard. However bogeys at the ninth and 13th saw him fall back, while an out of bounds drive at the 17th ultimately ended with a double bogey.

It was a day to forget for Sharvin who sits in a tie for last spot after a ten-over round.

Starting at the ninth hole, he recorded four doble bogeys in all with four further bogeys and two birdies leaving him with a mountain to climb if he is to be involved at the weekend.

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