Matteo Manassero followed up the biggest win of his career on Sunday with an impressive six under par 66 to take a share of the clubhouse lead on day one of the Nordea Masters.
The 20 year old Italian, who on Sunday became the youngest winner of the BMW PGA Championship, started with six straight birdies at Bro Hof Slott culminating in an eight footer at the 15th.
A bogey at the 17th was wiped by a birdie ten feet and the four-time European Tour winner produced stunning chips at the second and third to scramble par.
There was a second dropped shot of the day at the fifth, but Manassero responded with a magnificent pitch to within a foot at the next to set up a tap-in birdie and sit alongside Spain’s Pablo Larrazábal at the top of the leaderboard.
With four top-12 finishes in his last five events, Larrazábal mixed seven birdies and a single bogey.
Wales’ Jamie Donaldson completed a flawless 67 to sit alongside Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and English pair Chris Lloyd and Simon Wakefield in the clubhouse on five under.
Home favourite Peter Hanson overcame a sluggish start to record a three under par 69, while his Ryder Cup colleagues Francesco Molinari and Paul Lawrie were among the afternoon starters.
Manassero was not the only one with cause to celebrate last weekend - Daniel Gaunt claimed his second Challenge Tour title at the Telenet Trophy in Belgium.
And the Australian continued that good form as he turned in 33 to be alongside the likes of Lawrie and compatriot Richie Ramsay on three under.
The best afternoon display was coming from Roope Kakko, however, the in-form Finn - with three top-tens in his last four Challenge Tour events - turned in a four under par 32.
