Australia's Daniel Gaunt opened with a hattrick of birdies as he raced into an early lead at the inaugural Sicilian Open.
The 32 year old Challenge Tour graduate added further gains on the fifth and seventh at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA to reach the turn in a five under par 30.
That was one clear of three-time European Tour winner John Bickerton - the Englishman showing signs of a return to form after six consecutive missed cuts.
Bickerton, who missed almost all of the 2010 season with a wrist injury and is playing on a medical exemption, started on the tenth tee and opened with a birdie before registering a hattrick of his own from the 13th.
Bickerton's compatriots Richard Finch, Chris Wood and Andrew Marshall were leading the early chasers on two under, along with Wales' Stephen Dodd, South African Keith Horne and Ireland's Damien McGrane.
