IF it's a professional golf tournament in Ireland, there just has to be a low-pressure system somewhere in the vicinity. Having shredded a series of umbrellas during last year's high-profile home events, and having survived the recent meteorological apocalypse that was the Irish Open, only the brave ventured out to Palmerstown House near Naas yesterday.

But pity the competitors more than the spectators at the AIB Irish Seniors Open.

While the course with its mature trees provided a modicum of shelter from the gusting winds, there was simply nowhere to hide on the exposed, water-infested parts of the PGA National.

Still, most of the gnarled over-50 field, which includes the likes of holder Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca, applied a little of the analgesic balm, maybe popped an aspirin or two, and got on with it. At the end of an energy-sapping day, Australia's Stewart Ginn held onto his lead on six under par 138 after a 71, two strokes clear of Rocca and the unknown American Doug Johnson in the quest for the winner's prize of 67,500.

And despite the conditions, there was some respectable scoring. Having flown well beneath the radar on Friday, the Jamaican Delroy Cambridge got to grips with the Christy O'Connor jnr designed lay-out, which had been reduced to about 6,800 yards, early in the day to post a highly impressive twounder-par 70 which was subsequently equalled by David Merriman of Australia.

Later, their fine efforts were eclipsed by Juan Quiros of Spain whose six-birdie 68 saw him surge from nowhere into a tie for fourth place. "I practice near Valderrama and normally it's windy there, " Quiros explained.

"When I want to hit a low ball, I hit it no problem."

Antonio Garrido who crashed to an 84, could have done with a similar ball flight.

Cork's Denis O'Sullivan had been moving in the right direction with a two-underpar front nine of 34 but the six-time winner on the European Seniors Tour stumbled badly with three bogeys in the last four holes to finish with a 73, leaving him battling for minor places today.

Later, there was a surge from former K Club pro Peter O'Hagan who at one stage had moved to within three of the lead, but then temporarily lost his way on the back nine, dropping three strokes in the space of three holes.

O'Hagan is now based permanently in America where he is going through the stresses of Monday qualifying on the Champions Tour, and perhaps toughened by his recent experiences over the Atlantic, he managed to recover superbly with birdies at the 16th and the 18th for a 71 to take the mantle of leading Irishman on one-under-par 143 in a tie for seventh place.

So, as Quiros on 141 waited in the sanctuary of the locker room, and as the wind continued to gust, the leaders traded blows. Darcy, attempting to become the first Irish winner since Joe McDermott took the title at Woodbrook in 1998, could only manage a 77, but if he was more concerned with a painful back, Torrance simply struggled in the demanding conditions.

After firing the first controversial shot almost 18 months before next year's Ryder Cup by describing Nick Faldo's decision to appoint Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal as assistant captains as an "insult", Torrance was never going to feature in yesterday's headlines. After playing nicely for a 71 in the opening round, the Scot slipped back with a disappointing 74 to trail Ginn by seven strokes.

If Ginn, who was beaten by Torrance in a play-off for this championship at Fota Island last season, appeared to have blown his chance with two early bogeys, it was the unheralded Johnson who emerged as the main challenger. He eagled the par-five ninth to draw level with Ginn but the Australian responded with a birdie at the same hole before gaining another shot at the 11th.

Rocca is definitely not out of the picture and is likely to be the main threat to Ginn later today.