That took the 35-year-old, who lives in nearby Pavia, to within three shots of the lead held by Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, who equalled the course record on Thursday with a flawless nine-under 63.

Kjeldsen held a two-stroke cushion overnight but was among the afternoon starters today, and it looked certain that he would be overtaken as players again took advantage of the excellent greens and light rough at Castello di Tolcinasco.

Peter Fowler had already moved to within a shot of Kjeldsen, five birdies and one bogey in his first eight holes lifting the Australian to eight under par.

Brazil’s Alexandre Rocha had also picked up three shots courtesy of a front nine of 33 to lie seven-under, alongside Kent’s Benn Barham, who was also among the later starters.

Fowler failed to record a single top-10 finish on the European Tour last year and was in danger of losing his card after missing the cut in his last five tournaments of 2005.

The 46-year-old has not won a tournament since 1993 but moved into the outright lead with further birdies at the first and third to improve to 10 under.

Worksop’s Mark Foster had joined Kjeldsen on nine under after picking up six birdies in his first 13 holes, while Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam went to the turn in 32 to reach six under.

Foster endured a very similar season to Fowler last year, also failing to record a top-10 finish and ending up 107th in the Order of Merit, three places above Fowler.

But the 30-year-old former English Amateur champion was finding top form in Milan, and his third birdie in a row on the 14th took him alongside Fowler at the top of the leaderboard on 10 under.

Woosnam was continuing to show playing partner Paul Broadhurst, a potential Ryder Cup member, how it should be done.

A birdie at the first lifted Woosnam to seven under, while Broadhurst’s birdie at the same hole only took him to two over for the tournament.