Matteo Manassero takes clubhouse lead at European Masters
Matteo Manassero holds the clubhouse lead at the first round of the Omega European Masters after carding an impressive seven-under-par 64.
At the majestic Crans-sur-Sierre course in the Swiss Alps, Manassero began on the back nine with a birdie on the 10th and another on the 15th and put together a further five birdies over the front nine, the last of which came on the Italian's final hole. That added up to a flawless round for Manassero, and one that currently sees him two strokes clear of the field.
The 17-year-old only turned pro in May, having enjoyed a fine amateur career that saw him become the youngest-ever winner of the British Amateur Championship last year. And with Edoardo and Francesco Molinari both winning places on the European Ryder Cup team last weekend, Italian golf is in the rudest of health right now.
Manassero may well have been galvanised by the knowledge that a high finish here, or at next month's Dunhill Links Challenge - the final two events which he's been invited to partake in on the European Tour this year - will see his money earned this season rise beyond the £200,000 mark.
That's the threshold that Manassero needs to pass in order to earn his tour card for next year's European Tour without having to go through the rigmarole of qualifying school in November.
Of course, Manassero could just be hoping to prove to the wider world that it's not just the fabulous Molinari brothers who know how to play golf in his home nation. Edoardo is also playing in Switzerland this week after his outstanding turn at the past week-end's Johnnie Walker Championship, where he clinched victory with three birdies on the final three holes.
The 29-year-old is currently one-under after four holes today, and playing alongside legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman, making a rare foray on to the European golf tour after nearly a year out with a shoulder injury. The 55-year-old is currently on level par after four holes.
Of more concern to Manassero right now are England's Steve Webster and Robert Coles, both of whom are two behind the leader on five-under, as is Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, all three having completed the 18. Six players are tied for fifth place on four-under, with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and Spain's Miguel Angel Jiménez, South Africa's Charl Schwartzel and England's Ross McGowan the biggest names amongst that selection.
Mikael Lundberg is a little further off the pace on two-under, but the Swede will nonetheless be content with the day's work, having scored three birdies and a hole-in-one on the first four holes. The ace came on the third, and wins Lundberg a solid gold bar valued at £20,000.
Not bad for an hour's graft - if you can muster the brass neck to describe golfing around one of Europe's most picturesque courses as 'grafting', of course.
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