LAST UPDATE | 7 Sep 2023

SHANE LOWRY IS three shots off the lead after his first round at the Horizon Irish Open at the K Club.

The Offaly man is tied for 13th place on four under, along with the high-flying Mark Power, while Rory McIlroy sits a shot back on three under.

Power’s story is a brilliant one: the Kilkenny native played in the Walker Cup last weekend, and turned professional in recent days. He eagled on the 18th to cap a memorable day in Straffan, Co. Kildare.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma leads the field on seven under, having just finished his opening round with a sizzling 65.

Thomas Bjorn, Jordan Smith and Ross Fisher are a shot back, having all carded 66. Kristian Krogh Johannessen and Daan Huizing, yet to finish their rounds, are also on six under par.

Lowry’s round of 68 included seven birdies, including holes one, three and four. Yet he dropped shots on the seventh, ninth and 14th holes.

McIlroy’s 69 featured five birdies, including one at the par 5 18th hole, and he dropped shots on holes seven and 10.

Among the other Irish competitors in Straffan, Tom McKibbin is level par, while Padraig Harrington and John Murphy both shot one-over 73s.

Conor Purcell is two-over, with amateur Alex Maguire and Jonathan Caldwell four-over.

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