Defending champion Rikard Karlberg opened up a one-shot lead as the weather wreaked havoc on day one of the Italian Open at Golf Club Milano.
Almost five hours was lost to torrential rain and the threat of lightning in Monza, leaving 17 players unable to complete a hole and all of the later starters with at least 10 holes of their first rounds to finish.
Ryder Cup stars Danny Willett, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Martin Kaymer were among those affected as they all birdied the first before the hooter sounded to end the day due to darkness, while Andy Sullivan was level par after three holes.
Karlberg was able to get his first round completed and he did it in some style, rolling in a 20-foot eagle putt on the ninth to add to six birdies and a bogey and get to seven under.
"That's as good as it gets," he told www.europeantour.com.
"It was great round. I felt at a few tournaments there have been too many bogeys, I haven't been able to save par to get the round going and today I did that and in the end we shot seven under. I'm very happy with that."
Australia's Jason Scrivener is three shots off the pace after shooting a 67 with Andrew Dodt five off the lead after carding a 69.
Richard Green made a steady start after eight holes before play was abandoned for the day with the Victorian two under-par.
Brett Rumford and Scott Hend (one-under) were also forced off after seven and four holes respectively.
Nathan Holman finished one-over after managing to complete his round along with Marcus Fraser who has completed six holes.
