Tom McKibbin best of the Irish after solid Kenya Open start

Tom McKibbin is best of the Irish after the opening round at the Kenya Open, with a 69 leaving him five shots off the lead shared by South African Dylan Mostert and USA's John Catlin.

The Belfast native is on two under in a tie for 31st, while Gary Hurley is three shots further back after a 72.

Kinsale's John Murphy endured a difficult day however on the Muthaiga course, which leaves him having to fight back from eight over heading into Friday's second round.

LEADERBOARD

McKibbin made a slow start, with a bogey on the par-5 10th, before rebounding with a birdie on 13. But another dropped shot on the 17th left him over par entering the front nine.

But his fortunes changed for the better after an eagle on the fourth before finishing strongly with a birdie on eight.

Hurley, meanwhile, had a decidedly mixed round with five bogeys outweighing the four birdies he managed across the round.

Murphy made the ideal start with an eagle on 10 but that would prove to be the high point with a run of ten bogeys to follow which meant he had the joint-second worst opening round of the day in a tie for 154th.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Mostert and Catlin carded 64s and are a shot clear of the Netherlands' Wil Besseling and Frenchman Pierre Pineau.