Lars van der Vight impressed on the opening day of the Italian Challenge Open to lead by one-stroke at Golf Nazionale.
The Dutchman fired a bogey-free eight under par round of 64 to set the early pace, one clear of countryman Lars van Meijel and Englishman Angus Flanagan who will return on Friday with two holes remaining of his opening round after play was suspended due to darkness.
Van der Vight, starting on the tenth, birdied his opening two holes before making it five gains in his first six holes after making three birdies in a row from the fourth.
The 23-year-old added another birdie at the par five 18th to go out in 30, and carded two more birdies at the first and fourth to move to eight under.
“It was pretty good,” he said. “Obviously I got off to a hot start and kept it going throughout the round.
“I hit good shots, made the putts and that was about it. I hit pretty much every fairway and I think that’s key around here.
“The rough is pretty high in some spots and you can’t really hit driver everywhere so it’s just about keeping the ball in play off the tee and then going from there.”
Van der Vight is playing on an invite in Italy this week but has all-but secured playing status on the HotelPlanner Tour for 2026 after enjoying an impressive campaign on the Pro Golf Tour.
With two wins and six other top tens from 16 starts, Van der Vight tops the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit, and is embracing the opportunity to play without pressure in Sutri this week.
“It’s been going pretty good this season,” he added. “I’m in first on the Order of Merit so I’ve locked up my card for next year already, so it’s bonus golf here for me.
“This week I’m doing the same as I always do. I’m just trying to find my feet out here and see what it’s like.”
Englishman George Bloor moved into third place on six under par thanks to five back-nine birdies on day one, with 12 others one shot further back in a share of fifth, including South African Jovan Rebula, Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Spaniard Albert Boneta.
Round one will resume at 8:50am local time. Second round tee times remain unchanged with Van der Vight teeing off in the first group out at 7:50am alongside Christian Jacobsen from Denmark and Englishman Callum Farr at 12:30pm.
