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Pilkington & Karlsson share lead

Mark Pilkington of Wales and Sweden's Robert Karlsson each fired course-record rounds of nine- under-par 63 Thursday to share the lead after the first day of the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. Frenchman Olivier Edmond is two shots off the pace after opening with a 65.

Pilkington was in the first group to start the day on the back nine, and quickly made the most of the calm morning conditions with a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five 10th.

Pilkington played alone with Norway's Henrik Bjornstad when thegroup's th

"Being in a two was great because we could play at our own pace and just get on with things," said Pilkington, who added seven birdies, including four in a row around the turn, to complete the lowest round of his career. "Of course we had the best part of the day. There was precious little wind and it was a lot cooler at that time of the morning."

Robert Karlsson on the 18th after a round of 63. Allsport.

Pilkington, who spent most of the 2000 season on the Challenge Tour, finished 27th at the Qualifying Tournament to earn his playing card for the 2001 European Tour campaign.

Karlsson began two groups behind Pilkington with a birdie at the 10th, then rolled home a 20-footer at 12 for another birdie. He tallied six birdies over an eight-hole stretch from the 15th to the fourth to climb to eight-under, and three holes later struck a nine- iron approach to within inches for a share of the lead with two to play.

After taking sole possession of the lead with a birdie at the eighth, Karlsson pulled his drive at his final hole and was forced to take a penalty for an unplayable lie. He wound up carding a bogey that dropped him back with Pilkington.

"I struggled a bit with my driver all day but otherwise it was good out there," said Karlsson, a three-time European Tour winner whose last victory came at the 1999 Belgacom Open. "I hit really, really good iron shots and when I hit it in to 10 or 12 feet, I tended to take my chances."

Edmond opened with three birdies over the first four holes, then added an eagle and two birdies on the back nine for a bogey-free round.

South African Roger Wessels eagled the par-four sixth hole with a 157-yard shot from the fairway on his way to a six-under 66. He is tied for fourth with Markus Brier, Marco Bernardini and Angel Cabrera.

Thomas Bjorn, the winner of last week's Dubai Desert Classic, stands tied for 30th after a three-under 69, while defending champion Rolf Muntz is a shot further at minus-two.

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