The 30-year-old made an eagle and 10 birdies in a round that was the lowest of his career, the lowest of the European Tour season so far and the lowest at this event since it became part of the Tour in 1972.

The effort, which put him four shots clear, also matched the lowest-ever European Tour round to par, although preferred lies meant that Canter was denied a course record at Chervò Golf Club.

After an impressive amateur career, Canter has spent half of his time in the paid ranks on minor Tours, needing to graduate four times from the European Tour's qualifying school before claiming three top 10 finishes in his last eight events.

“I gave myself some chances and it was just one of those days where you've just got to enjoy the ride.” – Laurie Canter

In Brescia, Canter finished his first nine holes with a hat-trick of birdies, after starting on the 10th, and turned in 31.

He then added gains on the 3rd and 4th before sending his second shot to 16 feet for an eagle on the 6th, and another trio of birdies left him clear at the top of the leaderboard.

"It feels great," Canter said. "The score, days like that, the back nine there, everything's gone in. I gave myself some chances and it was just one of those days where you've just got to enjoy the ride."

South African Dean Burmester and Dane Joachim B Hansen were Canter's nearest challengers, a shot clear of a group containing England's Richard Bland and two ahead of three more Englishmen in Matthew Jordan, Ross McGowan and Jack Senior.

The leading Australian in the field was Maverick Antcliff, who shot a two-under-par 70 to lie in joint 66th place, a shot clear of his compatriots Jason Scrivener and Wade Ormsby.