Dan Bradbury blazes early trail to lead Italian Open after flawless 64

The two-time DP World Tour winner opened with four successive birdies before picking up another shot at the seventh to turn in 30.

He made just the one birdie on the back nine but managed to keep the bogeys off his card to sign for a flawless 64.

The Englishman's six-under-par total leaves him one clear of home favourite Francesco Laporta and Norway's Andreas Halvorsen, who had set the early clubhouse target in the morning.

Brandon Robinson Thompson, Angel Ayora, Wil Besseling, Marcel Schneider and Kazuma Kobori were in a tie for fourth on four under.

Bradbury got off to a strong start in the afternoon, sending his approach at the first to four feet before rolling in the putt for an opening birdie.

He made another from similar range on the par-five second before holing from 15 feet at the third for a hat-trick.

The 25-year-old then made it four in a row from four feet on the fourth to get within a single shot of the lead.

He joined early starter Halvorsen at the summit with a ten-footer at the seventh before holing from 20 feet on the 15th to hit the front on his own.

Bradbury, who had further chances to increase his advantage, said: "That was a nice way to start. I hit it close on the first, which was a great way to start.

"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.

"My last tournament round was Amsterdam, so that was a nice way to finish with five under. Coming here, I'm playing better. 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. 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."