Gareth Maybin was rescued by more fine putting on Friday

First-round leader Gareth Maybin shot a one-under-par 70 at the Italian Open on Friday to drop one behind Argentine Daniel Vancsik in Turin.

Vancsik shot a 65 to move into the lead on nine under par.

Ballyclare man Maybin, three clear overnight, had only one bogey but struggled with his long game.

Jonathan Caldwell and Michael McGeady are both on three under after 68s but Darren Clarke missed the cut after carding a dismal 75 for seven-over.

After starting on the 10th, Caldwell mixed three birdies with as many bogeys on his opening nine.

He remained on the projected cut mark of level par with three holes to play but the Clandeboye player produced a superb finish of three straight birdies.

Derryman McGeady, who matched Caldwell's opening 71, was one over at the turned and then bogeyed his 10th hole but five birdies in his closing eight holes enabled him to sign for a 68.

Gary Murphy squeezed into the weekend action after adding a 72 to his opening 70.

Usually anybody who finishes well is going to have one of those days, so hopefully that's mine out of the way Gareth Maybin

Maybin had just one bogey after driving into the rough on third third, but there were only two birdies - a 25 footer on the short 15th, his sixth, and a 15 footer at the first.

The Ballyclare man was rescued by an excellent short game although his total of 26 putts wasn't quite an impressive as his first-day stat of 23.

"Tee to green I was not very good," admitted the European Tour rookie, who in December lost the South African Open Championship in a play-off after missing an eight-foot putt on the final green.

"I had to work really hard - too hard - and I'll do a bit of work on the range to sort my driving out.

"Usually anybody who finishes well is going to have one of those days, so hopefully that's mine out of the way."

Clarke's dismal tournament is unlikely to give him much confidence for next week's Irish Open at Baltray.

After his opening 74, Clarke managed an early birdie on Friday but four bogeys before the turn ended any prospect of the Dungannon man progressing to the weekend.

Finland's Roope Kakko matched Maybin's opening 64 to improve to seven under but the round will not be listed as equalling the Northern Irishman's course record as placing was allowed on the fairways.

Iceland's Birgir Hafthorsson joined Kakko and England's Anthony Wall on seven under.

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