Course record has Finch in limelight

Yorkshire golfer Richard Finch stepped into the unknown today when he took a one-stroke lead into the third round of the Telecom Italian Open in Milan.

The 27-year-old former English amateur champion is playing only his ninth European tour event, having taken four attempts to come through the qualifying school.

Finch, only 716th in the world and 165th on the Order of Merit, broke the Castello di Tolcinasco course record with his 63 yesterday.

It edged him ahead of Welsh World Cup player Bradley Dredge – and forced him to change his plans for the weekend. He was due to attend a friend’s wedding in Portugal.

“I brought a suit with me and I checked out of my hotel,” said Finch, who stands on the 12-under-par total of 132.

It was the second lowest round of his life. The lowest was a 61 at Pyle and Kenfig in the British amateur championship three years ago, but after leading the qualifying stage by five he was promptly knocked out in the first round of match play.

Blond-haired Finch, 6ft 2in and nearly 14-and-a-half stones, is hoping for a better conclusion this time.

He is a tour rookie, but said: “I have played a lot of amateur golf abroad and that stands me in good stead.

“I played with a lot of the players when they were amateur or on the Challenge Tour, but there are people you have been watching on telly for years and you find yourself next to them on the range.

“That side of things is new and today is going to be a new experience, but it is a great chance. I just hope I can keep laying as I am.”

Dredge had four birdies in five holes from the 13th to join him on 12 under, but then three-putted the last for a 66.

That error was out of character for the day. “I did not hit the ball as well, but the putter was red-hot,” he said. “It’s nice when the hole feels the size of a bucket.

“I was not expecting to play as well as I am after two weeks at home. I knew I was starting to swing the club better and everything felt good, but you don’t expect to come out in competition. Hopefully it will keep going.”

Two further back following a 65 is Paul Broadhurst, who had his first victory for 10 years at the Portuguese Open a month ago.

Already out are defending champion Graeme McDowell and American star Mark Calcavecchia.

Playing together they finished level par and four over respectively. Calcavecchia will remember his trip for a different reason – he got married again between the first and second rounds.

Ireland's Gary Murphy, who has yet to tee off today, is ties in 13th place at -5.

Frenchman Julien Van Hauwe, meanwhile, has had a good week whatever happens this weekend.

He holed-in-one at the 16th last night and earned a BMW car valued at around €95,000.