Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell have put themselves within two shots of the lead at the British Masters.

The Irish duo carded 3-under 68s in Round 1 to sit in a tie for 11th.

There is a four-way tie for the lead on 5-under shared by Mikko Ilonen of Finland, Scotland's Marc Warren, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Richard Sterne of South Africa.

Paul McGinley is on 1-under after carding a 70.

Michael Hoey has finished his opening round on 4-over.