Canizares carded nine birdies and one bogey in the space of 12 holes on his way to an opening eight-under-par 62 at Crans-sur-Sierre, matching the score posted by South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence a few minutes earlier on Thursday.
Lawrence had started on the back nine and picked up six birdies before holing out from 30 yards for an eagle on his closing hole, the par-5 9th.
“It was a great round. I started out really comfortable,” Canizares told Sky Sports.
“It felt almost like unconscious, which is the goal for a golfer to hit unconscious good shots – and that’s what I’m working on, trying to forget a little bit about technique and let it go.”
England’s Matt Wallace and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson were part of a four-strong group two shots off the lead on six-under, with defending champion Rasmus Hojgaard another stroke back.
Hojgaard is bidding to join major champions Seve Ballesteros and Matt Fitzpatrick in claiming back-to-back titles in the Swiss Alps, while the 21-year-old would also love to emulate fellow Dane Thomas Bjorn in lifting the trophy for a second time.
Dimitrios Papadatos was the leading Australian after the first round, his two-under 68 putting him a shot ahead of his compatriots Jake McLeod and Scott Hend.
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