GOLF/ Italian Open: Australian Peter O'Malley shrugged off a two-month absence to equal the course record and claim a two-shot lead after yesterday's opening round of the Italian Open.

O'Malley carded an eight-under-par 64 at Gardagolf to match Bernhard Langer's score from the final round in 1997, when the German came from three behind Jose Maria Olazabal to claim the title.

Londoner Gary Clark was two shots off the lead after firing a 66 despite having to carry his own clubs, with veteran Roger Chapman, Swede Fredrik Orest and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez a shot further back.

Best of the Irish was Gary Murphy, who included five birdies on the way to tied 15th on three under. Philip Walton, playing on an invitation, collected four birdies but threw in three bogeys and a double to finish on one over, the same mark as Damien McGrane. Both will have to improve to play at the weekend.

Colin Montgomerie is yet to break the 70 barrier in 15 rounds this season after carding an opening 70, a score matched by Costantino Rocca despite the Italian having to take evasive action to avoid a miscue from his playing partner.

Montgomerie had pulled his drive on the par five 11th, his second hole of the day, on the picturesque Gardagolf course near Lake Garda in Brescia.

Partially blocked by trees, the Scot attempted to pitch out onto the fairway but hit the first tree in front of him. The ball squirted out sideways and almost hit Rocca and his caddie as they stood waiting to play their second shot.

"It was one of those times that I was so close to him that I couldn't shout fore," admitted Montgomerie, who settled for a quick apology instead. "He did well to get out of the way, a bit of a shimmy and a body-swerve!"

Montgomerie salvaged a par five and picked up two birdies before more tree trouble on the 18th led to a bogey and outward nine of 35.

After a sparkling 62 in Wednesday's pro-am with new cavity-back clubs, Montgomerie was making his first appearance of the season in Europe.