Dan Bradbury grabs early lead

Dan Bradbury stormed out of the gates at the Italian Open, firing four consecutive birdies from the 1st hole. He went on to make two more to close with a bogey-free, 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead at Argentario Golf Club.

“That was a nice way to start. I hit it close on the first, which was a great way to start,” said the Englishman.

“I tried to keep it going, but lost it a little bit – I’ll still take the day. I missed a chance at the end, but I’d have taken that score standing on the first tee.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well all year but not getting the results. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I’m doing the exact same thing but signing for lower scores. It doesn’t make sense, but I’ll take it. I’m not complaining.

“Sometimes you can just see the putts,” he added. “Today I felt like I putted solid overall, but you have to be in play. If you’re in the rough, especially around the greens, it’s just a lottery.

“Hitting fairways, hitting greens and trying not to get too frustrated.”

Bradbury has won twice on the DP World Tour. His best result so far this year was T7 at the KLM Open.

Norway’s Andreas Halvorsen made seven birdies and two bogeys for a 65 and a share of second place at 5-under alongside Italy’s Francesco Laporta who made one bogey.

England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson made five birdies and one bogey for a share of fourth place at 4-under alongside Germany’s Marcel Schneider and the Netherlands’ Wil Besseling, both bogey-free, as well as Spain’s Ángel Ayora and New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori.

The leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut will earn places in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.

Related: Argentario launches Tuscan golf getaway to celebrate staging the 2025 Italian Open

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