Newly crowned Amateur champion Matteo Manassero led the way for Italy in the European team championship, breaking the course record at Conwy for an amateur.
Italy teammate Andrea Pavan was in the group of players tied for second on five under par, though it was England at the top of the team leaderboard with a strong overall showing keeping them three shots ahead of Italy and Norway.
The 16-year-old Manassero, who became the youngest ever Amateur champion two weeks ago at Formby, rolled in a putt on the 18th to seal a sixty six – one stroke better than the previous best score by an amateur off the back tees at the tough links course.
“I am very pleased, I played good golf today and putted very well – especially on the 18th,” said Manassero, who is on a golfing roll at the moment as he prepares for the Open Championship in three weeks and the Masters next year.
“I made a mistake on the 16th going into a bush on the right, but bogey is all right on that hole.
“It was a lovely putt for birdie on the first, but a bogey on the next. I finished the front nine very well with two birdies and an eagle, but then started the back nine with a birdie.
“Italy are doing well, it is good to be up there.”
England’s team effort meant they have a three shot lead on 16 under, thanks to three players scoring below 70 with Matt Haines in the group on 67, Dale Whitnell on 68 and Tommy Fleetwod a 69.
Italy are three shots behind alongside Norway, with Sweden one behind them to remain in touch with the leading group.
France are fifth on nine under, Wales fourth on six under, Scotland one shot further back with Denmark and Germany in eighth and ninth places on two under.
Italy’s Pavan, a student in Texas, was delighted to finish five under – tying the previous course record.
“I just tried to keep the ball in play, I hit quite a few good shots and putted pretty well which helped a lot,” he said.
“Actually I felt I left a lot of shots out there down the stretch, but tried to keep my composure and then put two birdies in the last three which was good.
“They are difficult holes but they still leave you a chance to hit the fairway and the greens. I paid attention to where I wanted to hit the ball, and where not to hit it, and I guess it happened that I hit three really good shots and took advantage of them.
“I put myself in a great position on 18 too, but then I hit a bad shot which happens.
“I study at Texas, I have been there for three years, but when I come back here in the summer I just play for the national team and it is a lot of fun.
“We have a lot of good players and Matteo Manassero is a great player – he showed how good he is at the British Amateur and he has a lot to go – he is only 16 and that is impressive.
“It brings the best out of the other Italians, it shows that to be the best in Italy you have to work harder. Competition has to be a good thing.
“It is a team competition so the whole team has to play well and there is a lot to play, but we have a god team and we are good at matchplay so we will look forward to trying to make the top eight and then see what happens.
“Conwy is a fun course to play, it is not very long, but you have to hit good shots off the tee. The weather has been good and I like links courses – particularly when you can play in just a shirt because that does not happen that much.”