IT took Ronan Rafferty over 25 hours to complete his first round at Bergamo yesterday, but he was still able to head the Irish challenge for the Conte of Florence Italian Open.

The Ulsterman hit his first two shots shortly after mid day on Thursday, but then along with the rest of the field had to race for the sanctuary of the clubhouse when a particularly violent thunderstorm broke overhead and ultimately washed out play for the remainder of the day.

He resumed yesterday morning, but having completed 17 holes was again called off the course when the European Tour's, early warning detector signalled lightning and another Alpine storm in the vicinity.

Nearly two hours later Rafferty returned to the 18th and secured his par four, after his green side chip hit the flagstick and left him the formality of a two foot putt for par.

His 69 put him within reach of the pacemaker Gary Evans (65) who along with the other 29 players who managed to finish their first rounds on Thursday, was not required to attempt the second yesterday, although more than four hours of daylight remained when play ended in mid afternoon.

Tournament director David Garland decided that he would not attempt to start the second round until this morning, and afterwards reduce the field to the leading 50 and ties, rather than the customary 65 and all who tie for 65th place. Weather permitting, the final two rounds will be played on Sunday from two tees.

Then he turned down a request from Barry Lane, on behalf of several senior players, to reverse his decision. , Later with the course bathed in warm evening sunshine and the players killing time in their hotels, Garland admitted "I may have been a bit hasty in postponing the second round start until Saturday."

This parkland course has narrow fairways and lush rough, and the heavy rain this week means it is playing its full length. Off line shots are heavily punished as Paul McGinley discovered to his cost in a straggling 78.

Rafferty had four birdies in the first 10 holes, chipping in at the eighth, and sinking a 30 foot putt at the 10th, but dropped shots at the next two holes after missing the greens. "It's a shame the weather has hit his tournament again," he remarked. Especially as we had brilliant sunshine in Milan last year.

McGinley, whose target this week was to make inroads into the £35,000 prize money itself mates he needs to secure a place in the Open Championship, looks like departing empty handed. Out in 40 from the 10th and without a single birdie on his card, he said. "I missed too many fairways and too many greens. No complaints. . . it was just too tough for me today."

John McHenry played the last four holes of his opening round in regulation figures to return a level par 71, while Padraig Harrington will have every chance of maintaining his 100 per cent record today after a birdie at the last enabled him to sign for a 72.

Francis Howley, who had his round interrupted at the halfway stage which he had reached in 38, played the inward section in regulation to return 74.