September 16, 2016: Defending champion Rikard Karlberg finished with an eagle to open up a one-shot lead at the end of the first day of the weather-affected Italian Open. SSP Chawrasia opened with a score of one under 70, lying T44 at the Golf Club Milano.
The 262nd ranked Indian scored three birdies and two bogeys on his trek around the course. Chawrasia was three under through his first twelve holes, but conceded bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes. He started his first round on the 10th tee.
The Swede had just parred his first hole when play was stopped for the second time of the day due to torrential rain and the threat of lightning at 1055, with four hours and 55 minutes lost overall.
When play resumed at 1330, the sun came out and with very little wind and soft greens, scoring conditions were close to ideal as Karlberg posted a seven under par 64 to lead by one shot from local favourite Francesco Molinari.
Karlberg’s win at Golf Club Milano last season was his first on the European Tour and he has achieved four top tens since, including an impressive runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship.
The 29 year old has now returned to a happy hunting ground and was glad to get the first round finished, with all players in the second wave having at least ten holes left to play and some unable to start on Thursday.
“That’s as good as it gets,” he said. “It was great round. I felt at a few tournaments there have been too many bogeys, I haven’t been able to save par to get the round going and today I did that and in the end we shot seven under. I’m very happy with that.
“You know when you get chances here and you have to keep it a bit cool and try to hit greens. I kept my cool even though it was a longer day. Standing over the last shot into green on the ninth I just told myself, ‘I’m so tired but it’s just one more shot’. Pleased to execute as good as I did.
“It’s not a proper flow but we can sleep in tomorrow and play with the kids a bit and enjoy some time with the family before arriving here. It shouldn’t be any problem.”
Karlberg had spoken of his nerves and excitement at teeing off as a defending champion for the first time but he showed no signs of nerves as he put his approach on the 11th to five feet for his first birdie.
Back-to-back gains followed on the 14th and 15th and he repeated the trick at the first and second to hit the summit. Another birdie followed on the fourth and while he dropped a shot on the eighth, he put his approach to 20 feet on the ninth and rolled in the eagle putt.
Molinari is attempting to become the first Italian winner of the title since he won his maiden European Tour crown a decade ago and he was blemish-free in a 65.
The 33 year old played a beautiful approach to the par three 12th for his opening birdie and turned in 32 with some help from a stunning, curling 20-foot putt on the 16th. He then also took advantage of the first, second and third to delight the home crowds.
Veteran Swede Robert Karlsson and Spaniard Adrian Otaegui were also bogey-free as they got to five under by signing for rounds of 66.
Italian amateur Federico Zucchetti was another to please the home faithful with a 67 and he was joined by English pair David Horsey and Richard Bland, Australian Jason Scrivener, Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares, American Daniel Im, Wales’ Rhys Davies, Frenchman Romain Wattel and Scot Jamie McLeary.
Scot Richie Ramsay and Italian Andrea Pavan were the best of the later starters at three under after eight and six holes respectively.
