Matt Wallace went close to winning the Italian Open last year and he has made another strong start to his challenge for the 2018 edition of the tournament, with club-mate Callum Shinkwin also among the early frontrunners.

The Moor Park professional finished in fourth place at Golf Club Milano in October, two shots behind champion Tyrell Hatton, and he is again prominently placed on the leader board after the first round of this year’s event in Brescia.

The 28-year-old shot a bogey-free six-under-par opening round of 65 and currently sits in a five-way tie for second place, two shots behind early pacesetters Robert Rock and Laurie Canter at the prestigious Rolex Series event.

His fellow Moor Park professional has also started well and is one shot further back on five-under and in a tie for eighth at the time of writing after a fine finish to his round.

Wallace, who finished in tie for 20th at last week’s BMW PGA Championship after a four-round total of seven-under-par, started his campaign from the 10th and went ‘out’ in a three-under-par score of 33, before playing the ‘back’ nine in a three-under 32.

Bushey professional Shinkwin also started promisingly and was three-under through 14 holes when play suspended was due to lightning in the area.

The 25-year-old resumed with a bogey at the 15th, but responded impressively to finish his round with three successive birdies to rapidly move to five-under.

Shinkwin had also started from the 10th and made four birdies and one bogey on the ‘front’ nine to go ‘out’ in 33, before playing par golf from the first to the fifth holes prior to the interruption to the opening round.