First round leaderboard:
-5 M Fraser (Aus), P Lawrie (Sco), R Rock (Eng), G Storm (Eng) -4 S Dodd (Wal), D Drysdale (Sco), D Horsey (Eng), H Otto (SA) -3 P Edberg (Swe), O Fisher (Eng), MA Jimenez (Spa), G Maybin (NI), A Nilsson (Swe), M Soffietti (Ita), M Ureta (Chi), T Aiken (SA), P Whiteford (Sco), F Andersson Hed (Swe)
Selected others: -2 M Manassero (Ita), A Coltart (Sco) -1 C Wood (Eng) +1 D Clarke (NI) +4 C Montgomerie (Sco)
 Manassero's first pro event impressed playing partner Montgomerie |
Teenager Matteo Manassero enjoyed a successful start to his professional career by shooting an opening-round 70 at the Italian Open in Turin. The 17-year-old, who last month became the youngest player to make a cut at the US Masters, is two-under par, three shots behind the four leaders. "I was a bit nervous on the first tee, like always at big tournaments, but I'm getting used to it," said Manassero. Graeme Storm, Robert Rock, Paul Lawrie and Marcus Fraser shot five-under 67s. Eighteen players were unable to complete their rounds because of a two-hour rain delay in the morning, but Manassero was able to prove once again what a talent he is.  | 606: DEBATE |
Manassero won the British Amateur Championship in 2009, finished 13th in the Open at Turnberry a month later and won the medal for low amateur when he finished 36th in the Masters at Augusta in April. He added: "It was a really steady round and I really liked how I played today. "I didn't putt really great but then I didn't have that many close chances." Manassero's playing partner, Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, slumped to a 76 and though the Scot was dismayed by his own performance, he lavished praise on his young partner. "At the moment, my golf is non-explainable," said Montgomerie. "But Matteo was very impressive, to do that as a 17-year-old today. He has a good future and I wish him all the best." Hartlepool's Storm, the 32-year-old former British amateur champion, almost did not play in Turin after feeling "horrendous" when walking the Royal Park I Roveri course on Wednesday when rain washed out the pre-tournament pro-am. "I just sat down for an hour afterwards and then went to see the doctor and he told me I had a viral infection, some fluid in the inner ear," said Storm. "To shoot five under was a great score, I didn't expect it so maybe that's why, maybe I was relaxed. "I've had my worst start to a season since I came back on tour. I was effectively out for four months with a rotator cuff injury in my left shoulder and I'm just trying to get some form ahead of the big tournaments this summer." Former Open champion Lawrie began his round late in the afternoon just as heavy rain set in for about an hour but still managed six birdies to go with a bogey on the 17th. "It did get fairly messy out there while I was playing compared to the conditions in the morning," said the 41-year-old Lawrie. "So to shoot five-under was a really good score. "I struggled a bit from tee to green but putted magnificently. I holed three putts of over 30 foot from the fringe of greens."
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