Manassero takes early lead

Italian teenager shoots 64 on day one in Switzerland

Last updated: 2nd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Manassero takes early lead

Manassero: shot a 64 on Thursday

First-round leaderboard
GB & Ire unless stated
-7 M Manassero (Ita)
-6 G Storm
-6 M Ilonen (Fin)
-5 S Webster
-5 C Nirat (Tha)
-5 R Coles
-5 R Culacz (Aus)
-5 E Molinari (Ita)
-5 D Drysdale

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Teenage sensation Matteo Manassero holds a one-shot lead after shooting a seven-under-par 64 in the first round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

The 17-year-old Italian, last year's British amateur champion, matched the lowest round of his short professional career and in the process put countryman Edoardo Molinari in the shade.

Molinari, one of Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup wildcard picks following his victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at the weekend, carded a 66 on Thursday to stand in a six-way tie for fourth place.

Manassero, who also finished 13th in the 2009 Open and 36th at The Masters in April made seven birdies in all and leads England's Graeme Storm and Finn Mikko Ilonen by one.

He is trying to become the youngest winner in European Tour history, but said he would happily limit his ambitions to avoiding November's qualifying school.

A top five finish this weekend could allow him to do just that - the event being sixth of the seven invitations Manassero is allowed this season.

Inspiration

"It was a perfect round of golf and a great start to a tournament that is very important to me," said Manassero, who is also taking part in the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland next month.

Asked about both Edoardo and Francesco Molinari making the European side for the coming match at Celtic Manor, Manassero added: "It's a big inspiration for me and all the guys growing up in Italy.

"It's unbelievable what they are doing. I watched Edoardo's win on Sunday - it was beautiful."

Storm and Ilonen are also former British amateur champions and both are looking to add to European Tour successes this weekend.

Storm, winner of the French Open three years ago, came back from an opening bogey with seven birdies, while Ilonen, who has won in Indonesia and Sweden, holed a bunker shot on his final hole to tie for second place.

Molinari, who is taking three weeks off after this weekend in order to prepare for his cup debut, was blemish-free but could count himself fortunate at the long 15th, where his pulled third shot flew into trees - but came out just short of the green.

He was playing alongside Greg Norman, the two-time Open champion shooting a four-over 75 on his return following a 12-month absence because of shoulder surgery.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, the only other member of Europe's side in the field, had a 67 to tie for 10th in a gaggle of players including cup vice-captain Darren Clarke.