Matteo Manassero continued his irresistible form to go straight to the top of the Nordea Masters leaderboard when the first round began at Bro Hof Slott.
The 20 year old Italian, who on Sunday became the youngest winner of the BMW PGA Championship, started with six straight birdies in Sweden after beginning his round on the tenth tee.
A par at the 16th and bogey on the 17th followed, but at five under par the four-time European Tour winner was still two shots clear.
Wales’ Jamie Donaldson, Dane Morten Ørum Madsen, England’s Matthew Southgate and Spanish pair Pablo Larrazábal and Pablo Martin Benavides had all made impressive starts to lie three under par.
Home favourite Peter Hanson was one over through eight holes, with his Ryder Cup colleagues Francesco Molinari and Paul Lawrie among the afternoon starters.
Manassero’s outward 31 was matched by Donaldson when the ABU Dhabi HSBC Champion carded further birdies at the 16th and 18th, but the Italian holed form ten feet to regain his lead on six under.
Larrazábal matched Donaldson’s gain at the 18th to move into third place on four under.
