Nicolas Colsaerts holds two-shot lead at Italian Open

Nicolas Colsaerts has taken the lead at the Italian Open after finishing the first round on nine under-par.

The Belgian player hit eight successive birdies at Golf Club Milano on his way to a score of 63, which puts him two shots ahead of Francesco Molinari, Shiv Kapur and Kristoffer Broberg.

Colsaerts, who is ranked 218th in the world, has not won since claiming the World Match Play Championship in 2012.

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke lies seven shots off the lead after recording a two under-par 70, while Paul McGinley is four-under.

Lee Craig and Matthew Nixon fired the best scores out of the British players with five-under 67s each.