Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh opened with a creditable three-under 69 for a share of the 31st spot in the Italian Open here.
He was five shots behind joint leaders Robert Rock and Chris Wood, both of whom have never won on the European Tour.
But things were not so good for the other two Indians in the field.
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SSP Chowrasia, who won the Avantha Masters at the start of the season, shot a one-over 73 to be tied 102nd and Shiv Kapur had a two-over 74 for the 121st place.
Both Chowrasia and Kapur, will need low rounds to make the cut.
Jeev overcame an early bogey on third to come up with four birdies, three of them on the front nine on fifth, sixth and eighth. On the back stretch, he had a lone birdie on the 18th.
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Chowrasia had two birdies against three bogeys and Kapur had four bogeys against two birdies.
Rock and Wood carded eight-under 64 each to share the lead.
The English duo are a stroke ahead of a group of three, with seven more players, including local favourites Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero, another shot behind on a day of low scoring at the Royal Park Club.
It was however another disappointing day for out-of-form European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who carded a 75.