McGowan makes early Milan running

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB & Ire unless stated)
-8 R McGowan, M Ruiz (Par) -7 M Foster, H Otto (SA), M Warren
-6 G Bourdy (Fra), E Goya (Arg), S Kjeldsen (Den), P-U Johansson (Swe), A Noren (Swe), St Webster, O Wilson, F Zanotti (Par)

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McGowan fired eight birdies in a sparkling opening round

Surrey's Ross McGowan equalled the lowest round of his brief European Tour career to share the lead after the first round of the Italian Open.

The 26-year-old carded an eight-under 64 to sit alongside Marco Ruiz of Paraguay on a day of low scores.

They lead by a shot from World Cup-winning Scot Marc Warren, England's Mark Foster and South African Hennie Otto.

Former Open champion John Daly shot 67, while Nick Dougherty fired a 71.

McGowan, the 2006 English amateur champion who was second on the Challenge Tour order of merit last year to earn a full card, had eight birdies in a sparkling round.

"My first goal is to make sure of keeping my card," said the Englishman.

His countryman Dougherty, eyeing a first Ryder Cup appearance this September, was playing two days after his mother's funeral.

"I felt a bit emotional on the first tee and it was tough. It's just a weird feeling. I felt a bit cloudy all day," he said.

American Daly, who has slumped to 609th in the world, was delighted to have shown some improvement in his game at long last.

He had five birdies in six holes around the turn, dropped a shot at the sixth - his 15th - but finished by getting up and down from a bunker for yet another birdie.

The 42-year-old underwent stomach surgery a month ago and added: "This is the healthiest I've been in more than a year - it was brutal with the pain and it's nice to have my swing back."