Great finish by Stephen Grant in Europro event.

James Busby shot a 66 to take the first round lead by 2 shots in the PARTYPOKER.COM INTERNATIONAL OPEN at FAIRMONT GOLF COURSE in ST.ANDREWS.Busby was an early starter and he took full advantage with a 6 under par round that will help him to move up from 8th on the order of merit,if his good golf continues over the next 2 rounds.

Michael Collins birdied the 16th and 18th and looked to be the top Irishman on 3 under par 69,but he was over taken when Stephen Grant birdied the last 3 holes for a 4 under par 68,to sit in joint 2nd place with a group of 6 others,including Tom Haylock who is second in the order of merit.He will be looking to go top as the leader,Scott Jamieson isn't playing.

1989 European order of merit winner,Ronan Rafferty made a rare appearance,and he didn't disappoint as he returned a 1 under par 71,that was made up with 17 pars and a birdie at the 14th.Brendan McCarroll put in a solid round of level par 72 and with the cut tomorrow likely to be no more than 2 over par the other 8 Irish will need to improve.

IRISH SCORES.
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STEPHEN GRANT 68 -4.
MICHAEL COLLINS 69 -3.
RONAN RAFFERTY 71 -1.
BRENDAN MCCARROLL 72 PAR.
PAUL O HANLON 75 +3.
BARRIE TRAINOR,BRIAN MCELHINNEY 76 +4.
JONATHAN MALLON,TIM RICE 77 +5.
MARK STAUNTON,RICHARD KILPATRICK 79 +7.
GER HALL 82 +10.