Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

Youngster Manassero leads in Switzerland

Thu 2nd, September 2010

Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Italy's Matteo Manassero fired a seven-under 64 Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Masters.

The 17-year-old Manassero put together his best round as a professional. It was one stroke better than his final-round 65 at this year's Open de France.

Mikko Ilonen and Graeme Storm share second place at minus-six.

Four days after making birdie on the final three holes to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Edoardo Molinari posted a five-under 66. He was joined in a share of fourth by Rick Kulacz, Robert Coles, David Drysdale, Steve Webster and Chapchai Nirat.

Manassero, the 2009 British Amateur champion, started his round with a birdie on the 10th at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre. After four straight pars, he dropped in his second birdie putt on the par-five 15th. Manassero parred the next three to turn in minus-two.

The Italian birdied the first and third to get to minus-four. Manassero rolled in a 12-footer for birdie on the sixth to grab a share of the lead.

Manassero made it two in a row with a birdie on No. 7. He closed his round with another birdie at the ninth, his last hole, to lead by one.

"It was a perfect round of golf and a great start to a tournament that is very important to me," stated Manassero, who became youngest player to ever compete in the Masters earlier this year.

It is an important week for Manassero as this is the sixth of seven sponsor invitations he can take. A top-five finish this week would mean that he earned enough money in those six starts to earn his tour card for next year, thus bypassing qualifying school.

He was inspired by Molinari's comeback win last week.

"It's a big inspiration for me and all the guys growing up in Italy," stated Manassero. "I watched Edoardo's win on Sunday, it was beautiful."

Ilonen also started on the back nine and posted birdies on the 11th and 18th. Around the turn, he dropped in back-to-back birdies from the fourth and again from the eighth to get within one.

"It was an entertaining round. I didn't strike the ball the best, but I managed to put a good score on the card," Ilonen said. "I had a couple of chip-ins coming in. On the last, I holed out from the bunker for a four and it was a great way to finish with a 65. I had a chip-in on the fifth as well. I didn't have too many putts today."

Storm tripped a bogey on his first hole, the 10th. He came right back with a birdie on 11, then carded three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 14th to get to three-under.

After five straight pars around the turn, Storm birdied three of the last five holes to shoot 65.

"I've been playing really nice for a while," said Storm. "The game is consistent, but to be perfectly honest I haven't holed many putts for a while. That is my best putting round all year."

Darren Clarke, a vice captain on the European Ryder Cup team, and team member Miguel Angel Jimenez are among eight players tied for 10th at four-under 67.

NOTES: Defending champion Alexander Noren carded a two-over 73 and is tied for 102nd...British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen shot 71 and shares 69th...World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman struggled to a four-over 75, which left him tied for 141st in the 156-player field.