Matteo Manassero eyes first DP World Tour win in over a decade at Glendower

The Italian made two eagles and seven birdies in his lowest round on the Europe-based circuit to get to 15 under as he continues to rebuild what was once one of the most promising careers in the game.

He is the youngest winner in DP World Tour history after lifting the trophy at the 2010 Castello Masters when he was aged just 17 years and 188 days but has not tasted victory since claiming his fourth title at the 2013 BMW PGA Championship.

In the nearly 11 years since his win at Wentworth, he even lost his playing privileges, but two victories on the second-tier Challenge Tour last season have seen him return to the top table.

"This is a long road and of course I'm happy with a round like this but it's today, tomorrow's tomorrow and I don't look behind very much, even if we tend to sometimes," said the now 30-year-old. "So I just look ahead and try to improve the process, get better and see what comes."

He was 11 under after 15 holes in his second round but could not pick up any more birdies in his quest for a 59 – although the record would not have been official with preferred lies in place.

South African Oliver Bekker was his nearest challenger, a shot clear of a group containing Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin, who signed for a 64.