McGowan and Ruiz set a hot pace in Italy

5/9/2008

England’s Ross McGowan and Marco Ruiz of Paraguay produced golf as hot as the Milan sunshine to post respective eight under par 64s and share the lead in the first round of the Methorios Capital Italian Open.

Three players – England’s Mark Foster, South Africa’s Hennie Otto, and Scotland’s Marc Warren – are tied for second place on seven under par after an eventful day’s play at at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club.

Challenge Tour graduate McGowan’s 64 was a flawless display of golf, featuring eight birdies – six of them before the turn.

The man from Surrey revealed his accuracy and distance off the tee was the main reason for a blistering start to his maiden Italian Open appearance.

McGowan’s round was matched by Ruiz, who arrived in Milan on the back of a top 15 finish at last week’s Open de España in Seville.

Ruiz has also had to fight to rebuild a professional career which had appeared in jeopardy after he suffered a serious back injury two years ago.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1. Ross McGowan                ENG  64 - 8
    Marco Ruiz                     PAR  64 - 8
3. Mark Foster                     ENG  65 - 7
    Otto Hennie                    SAF  65 - 7
    Marc Warren                   SCO  65 - 7
6. Grégory Bourdy                FRA  66 - 6
    Estanislao Goya               ARG  66 - 6
    Per-Ulrik Johansson         SWE  66 - 6
    Sören Kjeldsen                 DEN  66 - 6
    Alexander Noren              SWE  66 - 6
    Steve Webster                  ENG  66 - 6
    Oliver Wilson                    ENG  66 - 6
    Fabrizio Zanotti                PAR  66 - 6

Source: European Tour