Deon Germishuys picked up where he left off last week as he carded a bogey-free four-under-par 67 on Thursday in the first round of the Challenge Tour’s Italian Challenge Open to ease himself into a share of sixth place.

He was just one stroke off the lead after he picked up three shots early in his round which he started on the 10^th. After an opening par, he made three birdies in the next four holes – on the 11^th, 13^th and 14^th – to turn in three-under 32. He made just one more birdie coming home, on the third, but there were no dropped shots as he stayed in touch with the leaders. There five of them on five-under.

Jacques Blaauw was the next-best of the South Africans after he signed for a one-under 70. He was in a share of 29^th. Luke Jerling was on level-par in 47^th together with, amongst others, Bryce Easton.

Jayden Schaper was on two-over, Ruan Conradie and Louis de Jager on three-over, and Tristen Strydom battled his way to a six-over-par 77 to be way down in a share of 136^th in the 156-man field.