Briton Oliver Fisher hit a first-round 65 to hold a one-shot lead in the Qatar Masters on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Englishman carded eight birdies and one bogey to move one clear of Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, while there was an 11-way tie for third, including major champions Ernie Els and Paul Lawrie, on five-under.
“I played nicely today. It was a little bit breezy and I felt like I controlled my golf ball,” Fisher told the tour Web site.
“I played well and gave myself a lot of chances so it was a good round,” he said. “It’s a great field like last week. I’m out there giving it my all every time until the last shot, and hopefully when I add them up at the end of the day ... it’s a good run.”
Cabrera-Bello produced six birdies in his round.
“I’m very pleased and happy with the way I played, and looking forward to tomorrow and the weekend,” the Spaniard said. “I had a good stretch from the 16th all the way through to the second, which for me are the birdie holes where you can go low. I managed to do that with three birdies there and just kept playing solid till I got home.”
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