Simon Thornton of Team Ireland has made a good start at the Austrian GolfOpen presented by Botarin and through sixteen holes is four shots off the lead on three under – dropping a shot on the 13th at the Diamond Country Club.
George Coetzee, currently 142nd on the Race to Dubai, has made a flying start with four consecutive birdies from the tenth, before adding another at the 16th. His first bogey came up the 18th, but by picking up shots at the 367 yard fourth and par five sixth the Qualifying School graduate raced to six under with three to play.
England's Sam Little and Kenneth Ferrie were joined by the Spanish pair, Jordi Garcia and Javi Colomo, on four under in a share of second at Diamond Country Club.
Miguel Angel Jiménez recovered from a double bogey at the 17th to reach two under with four to play.
Gary Murphy made a good start with a birdie on the first hole but went on to drop three shots on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to make the turn in 38 shots. The Kilkenny man remains level for the first two holes on the back nine.
Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane have yet to tee off.
