Gary Hurley continued his excellent start to the season in the weather-delayed Italian Winter Series at Golf Nazionale in Rome.

Following early morning frost, play was suspended at 6.21 pm local time with Hurley just a shot behind early leaders Mathias Eggenberger, of Switzerland and French amateur Julien Sale after carding six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under 68.

Starting on the back nine, Hurley birdied the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th to turn in 31.

Scores

The West Waterford man would drop shots at the third and fifth but he got a stroke back at the par-five seventh to keep the leaders in his sights, tied for third with David Porsius of the Netherlands.

"Fortunately, it was again a good day,” Hurley told the Alps Tour website. “This morning I played nicely even if the course was a bit tricky due to the wind. 

“This course has a lot of holes that should not be underestimated but I've been able to manage my feelings very well during the day and that is very important when you play a tournament of this kind.” 

The 2015 Walker Cup star is 15th in the Order of Merit thanks mainly to his tied for fourth in the 2022 New Giza Open and a tie for seventh at 2022 Ein Bay Open in Egypt.

Eggenberger and Sale shot five-under 67s to take the early lead while The Island’s Paul McBride and Kerryman Michael Young, who went out in 32, were tied 13th after opening with a one-under 71s.

Delgany’s Simon Bryan was a shot further back on level after a 72 as David Carey shot 73, Jonathan Yates 74 and Mallow’s James Sugrue a 76.

Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell and Kilkenny’s Luke Donnelly were tied for 99th a pair of six-over 78s.