In form Stenson tied for lead at Italian Open

Henrik Stenson's fine recent form continued on the opening day of the DS Automobiles Italian Open as he fired a flawless 64 to sit in a three way tie at the top of the leaderboard.

The 45-year-old Swede, who is targeting a sixth Ryder Cup appearance, followed up his share of the fourth spot in the D+D Real Czech Masters with a third place finish at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club last week.
And the 2016 Open Championship winner impressed once again on Thursday, notching seven birdies and no bogeys at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to join fellow early starters Kalle Samooja and Min Woo Lee on seven under par.
After opening his round with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th, Stenson picked up shots at the 16th and 18th courtesy of close range birdie putts. Further gains at the third, fourth and sixth took him to seven under and he parred his way home to keep his card clean.
Local favourite Edoardo Molinari finished the day alongside morning starters Eddie Pepperell and Scott Hend in a tie for fourth on six under, one shot behind the leaders after a brilliant 65 that contained a hole-in-one at the short par three seventh to win a new car.

Tommy Fleetwood forms part of the chasing group that sits at five under alongside Spaniard Adri Arnaus, who carded eight birdies in a row on his back nine after opening with a par, and Italy’s Francesco Laporta and Dane Nicolai Højgaard.