CONSTANTINO ROCCA did everything expected of him by scoring a five under par 66 before a thunderstorm curtailed the first round of the Italian Open at Bergamo yesterday. Only 30 of the field of 156 players were able to complete their opening rounds before the storm tracked down from the Alps to swamp the already lush Albenza parkland course.
Weather permitting, the first round will resume at 07.30 this morning, and the second will follow as rapidly as possible.
Rocca is aiming to become the first Italian to win his national title for 16 years, and the prospect has so excited the residents of the village that surrounds the club that several hundred turned out to cheer him on. His wife, mother and two brothers were among the enthusiastic gallery that cheered his six birdies, four of them in a homeward 32.
Rocca briefly established a Tour course record until Gary Evans, the former Walker Cup player, stole a share of the limelight with his 65. Argentinian Eduardo Romero and another Italian, Emanuele Bolognesi, both shot 67 to share third place.
David Higgins (72) and David Feherty (74) were the only Irish golfers to sign their cards ahead of the storm.
Higgins had four birdies, but the rookie professional from Waterville was disconsolate at his inability to turn three shots into two after narrowly missing four greens. "I played much better than my score suggests," insisted the 23 year old, "but my chipping was not very good."
In fact, it took a burst of three birdies in four holes for Higgins to repair the damage of four bogeys in the first 12 holes, but with a par round beckoning as he played the uphill 18th he underclubbed, leaving his five iron approach short of the green, and then missed from four feet.
Feherty also had four birdies but pinpointed poor concentration as the reason for seven dropped shots. "I am ready to go home to Dallas to see my children," he said. "A month on the road is too much for me."
John McHenry and Padraig Harrington were both in the closing stages of their first rounds when forced to trudge in from the flooded course. The Cork golfer, who is struggling with an injury to his left hand for which he is having daily physiotherapy, was level par after 14 holes. He three putted the 13th, his fourth, butt got back the lost stroke when he wedged within five feet of the third flag.
Harrington, whose target here is another high finish to win the "re rank" of Tour school graduates, was two over par after 12 holes. Ronan Rafferty, Paul McGinley and Francis Howley were among the later starters who will attempt to get under way this morning.
