FIANO, Italy (AP) — Joel Sjoholm of Sweden shot an 8-under 64 Thursday to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the Italian Open.
He picked up three shots in his last four holes. His best result came in Italy — third place in last year’s Sicilian Open.
Lee Slattery of England was at 65 and seven players were two shots back: Englishmen Richard McEvoy, Richard Bland and David Howell, South Africans Garth Mulroy and Keith Horne, Victor Dubuisson of France and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland.
Italy’s Francesco Molinari, the 2006 winner, led a Ryder Cup-bound trio at 4 under. Martin Kaymer is at 2 under and captain’s pick Nicolas Colsaerts is another stroke back. Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal shot a 70.
