An opening 66 from Darren Fichardt has set the pace for the 13 South Africans in action at the Italian Open, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Following on from his seventh-placed finish last week at the BMW PGA, Fichardt has once again started well as the Gardagolf CC hosts the second Rolex Series event.
The five-timed European Tour winner opened with a birdie but handed that shot right back with a bogey five on the second. That error would be his lone mistake of the day as he played his way into the top 10 of the leaderboard with steady and calculated golf.
After making the turn in -2, Fichardt birdied the 13th before two birdies in his final three holes lifted him to within three shots of the lead set by English pair Robert Rock and Laurie Canter.
Canter, who has played on the Sunshine Tour in the past, took full advantage of his place in the field – he received confirmation of his place on Sunday as the last player into the event – as he played bogey-free golf to join Rock at the top through 18 holes.
With Fichardt leading the South African charge, Thomas Aiken, left to rue a double drop on the fourth, and Brandon Stone finished with opening rounds of 69 with Haydn Porteous one back after a back nine 36 that included three bogeys which offset two birdies.
Zander Lombard had a forgetabble day as he finished seven shots over par in a round that included two doubles to go with a triple drop on the 17th.
Photo: Ross Kinniard/Getty Images
