Matteo Manassero, at 17 just a boy but with the game of a seasoned pro, shot to the top of the European Masters leaderboard in the Swiss Alps with a seven-under 64 that followed the heroics of countrymen and Ryder Cup-qualifying Molinari brothers.

But then again perhaps we shouldn't be shocked by anything Italians serve up on the golf course these days.

He wears a cap with Kinder's company logo splashed all over it and yesterday Matteo Manassero sprang another surprise.

But then again perhaps we shouldn't be shocked by anything Italians serve up on the golf course these days.

Manassero, at 17 just a boy but with the game of a seasoned pro, shot to the top of the European Masters leaderboard in the Swiss Alps with a seven-under 64 that followed the heroics of countrymen and Ryder Cup-qualifying Molinari brothers.

One of them, Edoardo, landed a Colin Montgomerie wild card on the back of a jaw-dropping success at Gleneagles last Sunday and Manassero revealed that was the inspiration behind his own stunning round.

The teenager, who didn't drop a shot to lead by one over Graeme Storm and Mikko Ilonen, said: "That was the perfect round of golf. I didn't miss many greens and when I did I got up and down each time.

"It was the perfect round and I got inspiration from what Edoardo did last week at Gleneagles. What he did was pretty unbelievable."....

Leaderboard (GB&I unless stated) 64 - M Manassero (Ita) 65 - M Ilonen (Fin), G Storm 66 - D DRYSDALE, S Webster, R Kulacz (Aus), R Coles, C Nirat (Tha), E Molinari (Ita) 67 - R J Derksen (Ned), S Hansen (Den), P Waring, D Clarke, A Wall, D Dixon, M A Jimenez (Spa), A Canizares (Spa). 68 - J-B Gonnet (Fra), A Hansen (Den), C Schwartzel (Rsa), O Wilson, S Strange (Aus), P Price, G Lockerbie, D Vancsik (Arg), M Jonzon (Swe), J Donaldson, A FORSYTH, K Horne (Rsa), J Clement (Swi), I Garrido (Spa), J Kamte (Rsa), R McGowan. SELECTED OTHERS: 69 - S O'Hara, M Warren, P Whiteford, T Hamilton, T Bjorn. 71 - R Ramsay. 72 - P McGinley. 74 - P Lawrie.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2010/09/03/
european-masters-italian-kid-matteo-manassero-
shoots-to-top-of-leaderboard-86908-22533650/
 

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