Paratore and Orrin set the mark in Sweden

Italy's Renato Paratore shares the lead with Englishman Max Orrin after the first round of the Nordea Masters in Malmo.
The duo both signed for five-under-par 68s at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club on Thursday, very solid rounds amid windy conditions that made scoring tough.
Paratore bounced back from two early birdies with five birdies and an eagle at the 12th. He had the worst of the conditions in the morning, when only 12 of the early starters managed to get round under par.
He's one of the quickest players in the game…
And Renato Paratore leads. pic.twitter.com/aGNEUcLLLs
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 1, 2017
After finishing 57th in the Race to Dubai last season, the Italian has just one top 10 so far in 2017, but he's certainly made an impressive start this week.
"Today has been a really nice day," he said. "I didn't start well, I was two over after four holes, but from there to the 18th I played really well, really solid, so in the end it was a good round. I was playing well even with the two bogeys, so I just had to stay patient, and that helped me to get to five under par.
"The key for me today was the driver from the tee. That's very important here because it's a narrow course. Today it was important that I managed to drive really well."
Orrin, a 23-year-old Qualifying School graduate with two Challenge Tour wins to his name, matched Paratore's 68 later in the day.
"It was tough out there," he said. "There were a lot of swirling winds and cross winds as well, so it was difficult to judge clubs. But I managed to put a good score together in the end, so I'm very happy with that."
Welsh duo Jamie Donaldson and Bradley Dredge lie one shot behind the leaders, while Benjamin Hebert, Eddie Pepperell and Li Haotong follow a further stroke behind.
After 18 holes:
-5️⃣ Paratore, Orrin
-4️⃣ Donaldson, Dredge
-3️⃣ Li, Pepperell, Hebert #NordeaMasters pic.twitter.com/n4gppaJ1ha— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 1, 2017
A large group of seven players follow on two under, three back, including Sebastian Soderberg – the highest placed Swede – SSP Chawrasia, Scott Hend and Tom Lewis.
The marquee group of the day featured defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick, Henrik Stenson and BMW PGA champion Alex Noren.
Fitzpatrick and Stenson opened with level-par 73s, while Noren had to settle for a 75 that already leaves him seven shots off the pace.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
Lucas Glover edges past Patrick Cantlay to claim back-to-back Tour wins
Glover, 43, ultimately claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole playoff after Cantlay found water off the tee.
-
Lilia Vu wins second major as Charley Hull comes up short despite stunning eagle
American Vu added the Women’s Open title to her Chevron Championship.
-
Lucas Glover holds onto lead in Memphis with Tommy Fleetwood two strokes behind
Glover said it was a scrappy day but he got ‘a lot out of’ what he had.
-
Charley Hull shares lead with Lilia Vu heading into final day of Women’s Open
The pair are nine under for the tournament.
-
On This Day in 2007 – Tiger Woods claims 13th major with victory in Oklahoma
The world number one successfully defended his US PGA Championship title.
-
Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with Open win
The pair share their southern roots, passion for hunting and college teams named the Bulldogs.
-
Ally Ewing storms clear during second round of AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath
At 10 under par Ewing enjoyed a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
-
Jordan Spieth leads by one after first round of FedEx St Jude Championship
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are the best of the British contingent, closing out Thursday on four under par.
-
Rory McIlroy delighted with Tiger Woods’ role on PGA Tour’s policy board
Woods, 47, has not played since withdrawing from April’s Masters and concedes his playing opportunities will be extremely limited going forward.