Sebastian Soderberg made a blistering start to open up a four-shot lead as the The Rocco Forte Open - Verdura, Sicily got under way on Thursday.
The Swede was playing in just his 15th European Tour event but looked like a veteran as he stormed to eight under after 11 holes to lead the way from Filippo Bergamaschi, Julien Guerrier, Rikard Karlberg and Richard McEvoy.
Soderberg has a Challenge Tour win to his name at last season's Barclays Kenya Open and made a stunning start in his attempt to add a European Tour title at Verdura Golf Club.
He made birdies on the second, fourth, sixth and eighth before an eagle on the ninth helped him turn in 30.
A birdie-birdie start on the back nine then moved him clear of the field as mutters of a historic 59 began to circulate round the course.
Playing partner McEvoy overcame a bogey on the tenth with birdies on the fourth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 11th while Bergamaschi - the third member of the group - birdied the second, seventh, ninth and tenth.
Karlberg was another man to make a fast start from the 11th as the Swede went birdie-birdie-eagle from the 12th to sit four under after six holes.
Guerrier turned in 31 with birdies on the second, third, fourth, seventh and ninth but then dropped a shot on the 11th.
There was then a group of nine players at three under including Alvaro Quiros who made a hole-in-one.
The Spaniard holed a seven iron from 191 yards at the 13th for the 16th ace of the season.
