Henrik Stenson edges ahead

Super Swede Henrik Stenson surged into the halfway lead at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters on Friday as he attempts to atone for last year's heartbreaking loss to Ernie Els .

Stenson , described by playing partner Nick Dougherty as the "current best player in Europe ", fired a sparkling four-under-par 68 for a two-day total of 10-under-par 134 at Doha Golf Club.

Trailing by one stroke was Stenson's co-overnight leader Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina , who returned a 69 in the US$2 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Thailand 's Prayad Marksaeng charged into contention as he returned an impressive 67 to trail the leader by three shots in joint fifth place on 137. Compatriot Thongchai Jaidee , a two-time Asian Tour number one, will also enter the weekend rounds right in the hunt after carding a 69 for a two-day total of 139. He scored a terrific hole-in-one on the third hole, and outscored playing partner Els for the second straight day.

It was another frustrating day for title holder Els and world number two Vijay Singh as they failed to hit into their stride, shooting 71s and will enter the weekend trailing by eight and 10 shots respectively.

Several Asian Tour stalwarts produced some terrific fightbacks on a breezy day in Doha , which will stage the Asian Games in December. Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, the reigning number one and currently third on the UBS Order of Merit, bounced back from an opening 73 to shoot a 69 and outscored playing partner Singh by two strokes.

India 's Shiv Kapur , last season's rookie of the year, bounced back from a poor 75 with a superb 67 for tied 28th place alongside Thaworn after a blistering inward nine of 31. Compatriot Jyoti Randhawa , playing in pain after bruising his ribs in a safari mishap earlier this week, shot a 72 for tied 33rd place.

Stenson , a two-time winner in Europe , lost last year's Qatar title after Els produced a stunning comeback from five shots behind. The Swede is in form having finished second in Abu Dhabi last week but conceded that his round today was a scramble.

"It was a bit of a mixed bag out there but I just fought hard and made a couple of putts and a couple of scrambles but there was a lot of ups and down and didn't really get into my game either. It was a bit of a struggle but a 68 is a 68 no matter how it looks," said Stenson .

The Asian stars sparkled, led by the wonderful display from the stocky Prayad . With a trusty old putter in his bag, he is looking to become the third Thai player to win a European Tour-sanctioned tournament after Thongchai and Thaworn .

"If it happens, it will happen," said Prayad . "I played really nicely. I drove the ball well and hit my irons particularly nicely. This week, I've reverted back to an old putter and it's been working out pretty good. I holed quite a few putts out there over the past two days and I'm feeling good. I can just go out and try my best," said Prayad , a five-time winner on the Asian Tour.

Thongchai , who won the first of his two Malaysian Open titles in 2003 with a hole-in-one, produced another ace at the challenging par three, 216 yard third hole. With a five iron in hand, the former soldier nailed a tee shot that took one bounce, hit the flag and dropped into the cup.

"The wind was right to left and I was thinking if I hit the green, I'll be very happy. It's a tough hole. I think I was lucky," said Thongchai . "This week, I'm driving the ball a lot better with a new shaft on my driver and I'm hitting it a bit straighter here."

After opening with a 75, the same opening round score as last week, Kapur's prospects of a weekend appearance in Doha looked bleak. A bogey on the fifth left him with a mountain to climb but Kapur proved why he was rated as one of the best young players in Asia by shooting six birdies over his last 10 holes.

"After eight holes, it wasn't looking very good. I knew there were birdie opportunities on the back nine which is a bit easier and I just told myself to stay patient. I've not been scoring and it was just a question of making the putts and then I made four on the trot (from the ninth).

"Last week in Abu Dhabi , I also started with a 75 and then shot a 66, so I knew I could do it again. Yesterday I played well and didn't have any luck. Today on the front nine, I played well but didn't do anything. The luck has to turn around sometimes and you just don't give up. I'm looking forward to the weekend now," said Kapur , who won the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in December.