Bryce Easton had a rocky closing nine on Thursday on his way to a first round of two-under-par 70 in the first round of the HotelPlanner Tour’s Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle in County Meath.

Easton started his opening round on the par-four 10th with a birdie, and picked up another shot on the par-five 12th. It was steady as she goes for the remainder of his front nine as he made pars to the turn. But he dropped a shot on the first, before making two birdies in a row on the second and third. There was another bogey on the fourth, a birdie on the seventh, and a final dropped shot on his last hole, the ninth.

He finished the opening round in a share of 18th, but he was just three strokes off the lead which was held by Welshman Oliver Farr. There were eight players on four-under in a share of second, and eight on three-under in a share of 10th. Easton shared 18th with 13 other players.