The England pair of Robert Rock and Chris Wood were floating high and sharing the lead after 64s on the opening day of the rain-affected BMW Italian Open in Turin.

The pair played in the same group and there was no seperating them after 18 holes on a soggy Royal Park course.

Rock birdied his closing five holes while Wood finished eagle, birdie under a ‘preferred lie’ rule in effect.

Rock and Wood, who continue to strive for a first Tour success, produced a better ball score of 59.

Fans of Matteo Manassero delight in seeing him shoot a 66

However to add further concern to organisers, the heaven’s opened again late in the day to again deluge the course.

Three players, Scotland’s in-form Scott Jamieson, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Denmark’s Thornbjorn Olesen, are next best at seven under par.

Italy’s Matteo helped bring a record crowd onto the course and he delighted his fans by brilliantly kick-starting his round birdie, eagle and birdie.

The 18-year old outscored playing partners Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie by a respective five and nine strokes with Clarke posting a 67 and Monty a 73.

But it was Clarke was graciously leading the praise for a player who very well could be a member of Clarke’s possible 2016 European Ryder Cup led side.

“Matteo’s a great player and he’s only going to get better and better and better,” said Clarke.

“More importantly, he’s a really, really nice young man.  He says his please and thank yous, and has a very polite manner.  He’s just a great young kid.”

And the Italian Police get into the swing of the event in Turin

And to highlight the fickle nature of the ancient club and ball game, Scott Jamieson recorded a BMW Italian Open first round score 20 strokes fewer than a round at Wentwoth less a fortnight ago.

Jamieson’s round is his equal lowest this year in 41 rounds after he also shot a 65 on the final day of the Joburg Open to earn a share of sixth and the first of three top-10s in 12 events this year.

But of more delight to the quietly-spoken Glaswegian was the manner he bounced back after Wentworth weekend scores of 85 and 78, and also starting last week’s Saab Wales Open with a 78.

“My good form just disappeared for two weeks, so it’s nice to get back into the swing of things again,” he said.

“When you’re swinging a club at over 100 miles an hour, it’s just the nature of the game that a few things can go wrong.”