Power and Lowry in contention after their first rounds at the Abu Dhabi Championship

Seamus Power shot a flawless 66 to move into the top five after his first round at the Abu Dhabi Championship this morning.

The Waterford native managed six birdies without dropping a shot to finish two strokes off clubhouse leader Luke McDonald in outright fourth place on six under par.

Starting on the 10th, Power reached the turn at one under after a lovely approach shot left him a three-footer for birdie on the 18th. But it was on the way in, playing the front nine, that he really found form.

Power picked up four more shots in five holes, before his sixth birdie of the day at the par-three eighth.

The highlight of Shane Lowry's round was his eagle on the second - his 11th - as a fine second shot left him a 24-foot putt which he duly sank.

The Offaly man added three birdies as he finished one shot behind Power on five under.

Tom McKibbin endured an up and down round, including a double bogey on the 18th hole - his ninth - after finding the water with his third shot.

The 20-year-old from Holywood mixed in another three bogeys as well as five birdies to finish on level par.

Padraig Harrington was three under through eight holes of his first round.

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