Scores still low in Milan

Low scoring continued to be the order of the day in the early stages of the third round of the Italian Open in Milan today.

The halfway cut at Castello di Tolcinasco fell at four under par, just one shot outside the lowest cut of the season so far.

The birdies were still flowing this morning, long before overnight leader David Drysdale was due to tee off with a two-shot lead.

Wales’ Garry Houston and England’s Richard McEvoy, in the second match out at 8am local time, both moved to within three of Drysdale’s lead at 10 under par.

Houston raced to the turn in 31 with three birdies and an eagle, and also birdied the 14th and 15th before his charge was halted by a bogey at the next.

McEvoy, a member of the victorious 2001 Walker Cup team which also featured Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty, eagled the first in a front nine of 32 and picked up three more birdies on the back nine to keep pace with his playing partner.

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts had also moved to 10 under after just nine holes of his round, and it looked certain Drysdale would be overtaken before teeing off shortly before 1pm local time.