Matt Fitzpatrick birdied two of his final three holes on the resumption of the weather-affected first round at the 2022 DS Automobiles Italian Open to hold a one-shot advantage over Thomas Bjørn and Joost Luiten at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
The U.S. Open Champion was one shot clear of a large chasing pack following his opening 15 holes when play on day one was suspended due to fading light after all tee times had been pushed back by one hour on Thursday morning due to lightning.
That meant many of the afternoon starters had to return at 7.30am on Friday to finish off their opening rounds.
Fitzpatrick picked up shots at the 16th and the par five 18th, either side of his only bogey of the round at the par three 17th, to sign for an opening round of six under 65, with 2018 Ryder Cup winning Captain Bjørn and six-time DP World Tour winner Luiten a shot further back
Bjørn birdied his final three holes to sit in a share of second place, while Luiten mixed birdies at the sixth and ninth with a bogey at the eighth after only managing to play 13 holes on Thursday.
World Number Two Rory McIlroy was in an eight-way tie for fourth spot on four under alongside Gavin Green, Scott Jamieson, Adri Arnaus, Eddie Pepperell, Antoine Rozner and Spanish pair Rafa Cabrera Bello and Alvaro Quiros, who unlike the other six players had to conclude their first rounds on Friday morning.
Cabrera Bello birdied his final three holes to card an opening round of 67, which Quiros matched with a birdie at the ninth after starting from the tenth hole on Thursday.
Defending champion Nicolai Højgaard, playing alongside McIlroy over the opening two rounds, was among a trio of players another shot further back on three under after his opening 68.
Team Europe Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald completed his first round by matching two birdies with two bogeys in his final four holes to sit in a group of players at two under, which included Italian Filippo Celli who birdied four of his final seven holes on Thursday in his debut as a professional.
The second round began at 8am on Friday.
