Ireland’s Peter Lawrie produced a course record eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to lead after the opening round at the Sicilian Open golf tournament.
Lawrie’s superb start featured nine birdies and just the one bogey at the Verdura Golf and Spa resort.
The 38-year-old Dubliner leads by one shot from a trio of challengers – Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Argentina’s Tano Goya.
Australian Richard Green shot a five-under first round of 67 to be three shots off the lead but is bunched with 11 other players.
Lawrie has put himself in with a solid chance of adding to his lone European Tour success at the Spanish Open in 2008 after missing the cut last week in Morocco.
“I’m delighted after last week,” Lawrie said. “But I came here and really practised hard over the last couple of days and I’m delighted that I actually holed a few putts.
“You can’t win a tournament on Thursday, as they always say, but you can lose it. I’m not going to get ahead of myself.”
Kjeldsen was the early clubhouse leader after a round that included an eagle, six birdies and one bogey.
His 65 was matched by Goya and Donaldson, third last week in the Hassan Trophy, who is seeking his first win on the European Tour at the 249th attempt.
John Daly and Costantino Rocca, who fought out a play-off for the 1995 British Open, were paired together, with the American posting a 71 and local star Rocca a 77.
Fellow American Rich Beem opened with a three-under 69, while Matteo Manassero of Italy carded an even-par 72.