Gareth Maybin eight behind after opening 72 at Dutch Open

Gareth Maybin is eight shots behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Dutch Open.

Maybin fired a two-over-par 72 after dropping two shots in the closing three holes at the Kennemer course.

Ireland's Damien McGrane is one off the pace after a 65 which included an eagle and five birdies.

Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley shot 68 with Shane Lowry on 69, Simon Thornton on 70 and Peter Lawrie, Padraig Harrington and Kevin Phelan all on 71.

Phelan is playing his first event as a professional after joining the paid ranks following last weekend's Walker Cup in the US.

Harrington, who has dropped to 92nd in the world rankings, was one under after nine but then suffered a triple bogey at the 10th and a further bogey at the next to plummet to three over.

The Dubliner did finish his round with two birdies but that still left him sharing 84th place in the Netherlands.

Maybin's European Tour card is secure for next season with him currently 77th in the Race to Dubai standings.

The Ballyclare player, who was joined on 72 by David Higgins, has produced reasonable form over the last couple of months highlighted by his share of fifth place at the Scottish Open.

The 33-year-old was tied for 22nd at last week's European Masters in Switzerland.

Meath man McGrane was in his lead on his own on six under after 16 holes but a dropped shot at the penultimate hole led to him signing for his 65.

McGrane was joined on 65 by David Howell, Pablo Larrazabal, Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, Scotland's Gary Orr and Australian Robert Allenby.