SARDINIA, Italy, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Michele Reale delighted the home crowd Thursday as he grabbed a share of the lead at 9-under 63 with England's Mark Roe after one round of the Italian Open.
Reale is trying to become the first Italian winner on home soil since 1980.
He is currently languishing in 201st place on the European Tour's money list and knows he must win the tournament to secure his playing rights for the 2002 season.
Reale, 30, has made only nine cuts this season, having been hampered by a recurring injury to his right arm suffered on the practice range four years ago.
He holed a 7-iron approach from 165 yards for an eagle at the par-4 fourth to highlight the round.
"This year I have not played well," Reale said. "I have had a big problem with a tendon in my right arm and maybe in December I will have an operation. It's been a problem for four or five years."
Roe managed to equal his lowest round in 17 years on The European Tour despite never having laid eyes on the course before teeing up for the first round.
Roe arrived in Sardinia for the first time Wednesday and decided to have a cup of coffee rather than walk a few holes. Nevertheless, he made eight birdies and an eagle with just one dropped shot.
Even a one-hour delay due to the threat of lightning could not dampen his round as he hit a 3-wood to 20 feet before the siren sounded on the 15th. He then walked out to the course an hour later and holed the eagle putt.
"I teed up not knowing where I was going, but sometimes that can work," he said.
Two strokes behind the leaders were Sweden's Fredrik Andersson, another player fighting for his playing privileges. Andersson is currently in 126th place and needs to climb into the top 115 if he is to avoid a third successive visit to the qualifying tournament.
Defending champion Ian Poulter made a solid start in defense of his title with a first round 67.
