Italian Open Round 1 Leaderboard: England's Dan Bradbury fires course record to lead

Dan Bradbury carded a blemish-free 6-under par round of 64 to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the Italian Open at Argentario Golf Club.

The Englishman, who won his second DP World Tour title at last season’s FedEx Open de France, raced up the leaderboard with consecutive birdies on his first four holes. 

He then added a fifth gain of the day at the seventh to draw alongside early pace-setter Andreas Halvorsen of Norway, who carded a 5-under par 65 in the morning.

Bradbury then birdied the par-4 15th and parred his way home to sign for a new course record of 64.

"That was a nice way to start," said Bradbury.

"I hit it close on the first, which was a great way to start.

"Tried to keep it going, but lost it a little bit – I’ll still take the day.

"Missed a chance at the end, but I’d have taken that score standing on the first tee.

"My last tournament round was Amsterdam, so that was a nice way to finish with 5-under.

"Coming here, I’m playing better. I feel like I’ve been playing well all year but not getting the results.

"I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I’m doing the exact same thing but signing for lower scores.

"It doesn't make sense, but I’ll take it. I’m not complaining."

Halvorsen, who set the clubhouse target of 5-under after his morning round which included seven birdies and two bogeys, was joined in a share of second place by Italy’s Francesco Laporta. 

Home favourite Laporta fired six birdies with a single bogey stay within one stroke of Bradbury, with whom he teed it up today.

“It was a great round today," said Laporta.

"Solid and I didn’t make any big mistakes. 

"It was good. It’s a tricky course and it’s probably going to be very tricky tomorrow, we’re expecting a bit of wind. But it was nice. Every part of the game was pretty solid today.

"The last three tournaments I’ve played pretty solid, played some good golf. Nothing really changed from the beginning of the season. I just think I’m a different player compared to last year. My game has been solid in every tournament. I’m pretty happy with how I’m playing."

One shot further back on 4-under par are the quintet of Angel Ayora of Spain, Wil Besseling of the Netherlands, New Zealander Kazuma Kobori, Englishman Brandon Robinson-Thompson and Germany’s Marcel Schneider.

Italian duo  Andrea Pavan and Edoardo Molinari are among nine golfers in a share of ninth place on three under.