Maybin gets off to a flier in Italy

BALLYCLARE’S Gareth Maybin continued to stake his claim for a first Race to Dubai Tour success with a three under par 69 on the opening day of the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Maybin picked off five birdies on the rain-softened Royal Park course to end the day trailing just two shots behind the leading foursome of Australia’s Marcus Fraser, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and the England pair of Graeme Storm and Robert Rock.

Further rain in the northern Italian city forced a two-hour delay to the start of play and this after the rain had closed the course for practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.