Molinari and Wiesberger share round lead at Italian Open, Gallacher's Ryder Cup bid in doubt
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Home favorite Francesco Molinari and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger both shot 66 to share the first round lead at the Italian Open on Thursday, while Stephen Gallacher's bid to earn a late spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team ran into trouble.
Molinari and Wiesberger managed six birdies each in their bogey-free rounds to finish six under par. They lead a group of five players, including early leader John Hahn of the United States, by one stroke.
Gallacher, who needs a top-two finish to dislodge former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell from Europe's team, opened with a par-72. The Scot is the only player still capable of moving into the automatic Ryder Cup places in the final qualifying event.