DORSET'S Gary Emerson produced a flawless first round to lie just four shots off the pace in the Nissan Irish Open.

The 39-year-old carded a four-under-par 68 on the Portmarnock course to lie in joint fourth place after a bogey-free round which also contained four birdies.

It was an excellent comeback by the Broadstone touring professional who failed to make the cut in The Open Championship at Royal St George's last week.

Lee James, meanwhile, made a stunning start to the tournament and led the way after 13 holes when he stood at five-under-par.

The Southbourne-based player, who started from the 10th hole, opened with two birdies and also picked up an eagle at the par five 16th.

His 'front nine' also included a further birdie and just one bogey as he went to the turn in 32 shots for a four-under-par total.

But, after bagging another birdie at his 10th hole (the first), he went double bogey and bogey from his 14th hole (the fifth) to slip back to two-under par.

Although he gained another birdie, James, who has struggled on the tour this season, finished with two dropped shots to finish with a one-under-par 71 for a share of 38th place.

Poole's Shaun Webster continued his good form by shooting a level-par 72. The Dorset Golf and Country Club star's first round included two birdies and just two dropped shots for a share of 66th place and he now has a good chance of making today's cut with another steady round.

Four days after losing the Open championship from three ahead with four to play Thomas Bjorn shot a brilliant 64.

In the biggest moment of his career at Royal St George's the 32-year-old Dane needed three attempts to get out of sand on the 16th hole of his final round on Sunday.

He had also incurred a two-stroke penalty in a bunker on the opening day, so Bjorn could only smile when he splashed out of a trap at Portmarnock's second hole - his 11th of the day - and saw the ball roll up to the flag and drop in.

That made him joint leader of the £1.2m event and he followed with five more birdies in the last seven holes to take a two-stroke lead over New Zealander Michael Campbell and set a record for the lengthened course.

Another happy man was Sheffield's Mark Roe, also trying to put his painful Sandwich experience behind him. "Is this MY card?" asked Roe out loud as he walked onto the tee and was handed a scorecard by the official starter.

As will never be forgotten by golf followers around the globe - or by the 40-year-old himself - Roe was disqualified on Saturday when he and playing partner Jesper Parnevik forgot to exchange cards and therefore filled in the wrong scores.

Roe suffered the major heartbreak. While Parnevik had crashed out of contention with an 81 he had scored a 67 and would have been joint third and paired with Tiger Woods for the final round.

After completing a three-under-par 69 Roe said he checked the card "47 times" before feeling safe to leave the recording area.