Englishmen Chris Wood and Robert Rock share a one-shot lead after the opening round of the BMW Italian Open.
Both men are in search of their first European Tour titles and shot opening-round eight-under-par 64s on Thursday to end the day just ahead of Scott Jamieson, Thorbjorn Olesen and Rafael Cabrero-Bello.
Wood and Rock began their rounds in the same group at the 10th and after a relatively quiet front nine, which saw Wood card a birdie and Rock make three birdies and one bogey, the pair engaged in a thrilling duel on their inward nine holes.
Wood surged ahead of his compatriot with three successive birdies at the par-four first, second and third, while Rock managed one birdie at number two. They both picked up birdies at the par-five fifth and Rock continued that fine run by birdying his remaining four holes. Wood, however, was not about to be upstaged and responded with an eagle at the par-five eighth before closing out with a birdie at the par-four ninth to join Rock at the summit.
Rock told europeantour.com: “Nine birdies and one bogey was good.
“I love this course and it was good to be in a group where someone else was knocking them in and I enjoyed playing with Chris.
“I holed quite a lot of putts today, which is something that has been testing me over the last couple of months. Tee to green my game has been good.”
Scotland’s Jamieson made six birdies, an eagle and a bogey in his round of 66 to share second place with Olesen and Cabrera-Bello on seven-under, while home hopes Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari are among a group of players just one shot back on six-under. Both men made five birdies, an eagle and a bogey during their opening 18 holes in Turin.
