County Louth's Thomas Mulligan is eight shots off the lead after the opening round of the Italian Amateur Championship at Acaya Golf & Spa Resort in Lecce.

Set to turn 18 on April 7, the Mornington golfer opened with a four-over-par 75 to share 35th place behind Serbia's Branimir Gudelj.

Gugelj shot a four-under-par 67 to lead by one-stroke from Spain's Jorge Maicas, France's Victor Veyret and American Sean Crocker, the world No 20 and a beaten semi-finalists in the 2015 US Amateur Championship.

Co Sligo's Declan Reidy is tied for 58th after a six-over-par 77.

Scores