McGowan, Ruiz lead at Italian Open

MILAN, Italy, May 8 (UPI) -- Ross McGowan and Marco Ruiz each shot 8-under-par 64s Thursday and are tied for the lead after the first round of the Methorios Capital Italian Open.

McGowan had a string of six birdies in eight holes and Ruiz overcame a bogey on a par 5 to share the lead. Mark Foster, Hennie Otto and Marc Warren are tied for third at 7-under 65.

McGowan and Ruiz each started on No. 10 Thursday but took very different routes to the same score.

McGowan parred his first hole but moved under par on No. 11 with a birdie. After another par, he had four consecutive birdies. He had a par at 17 but birdied 18 to make his turn at 6-under 30. He played the front nine in a bogey-free 2-under.

Ruiz opened with a birdie at the 10th hole but gave the stroke back with a 6 at the par-5 12th hole. He had birdies on three of the next five holes to turn at 3-under. He then ran off three consecutive birdies and closed with birdies at Nos. 7 and 9 for a share of the lead.