Qatar Masters
Doha Golf Club
Qatar
5th - 8th March 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £600,000

First Round Report

First Round Scores

Forsbrand shoots 67 for one-stroke lead

Doha, Qatar, 5th March 1998 Sweden's Andres Forsbrand, without a victory on the European Tour since 1995, - birdied the last three holes today to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Qatar Masters.

Forsbrand mastered the blustery conditions with a 5-under-par 67, one shot ahead of Scotland's Andrew Coltart.

Forsbrand dropped a shot at the par-3 eighth hole and another at the 14th when he missed the fairway. But he made up for those blemishes on the final three holes, including an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.

"I've been playing pretty well this season and today I putted well," Forsbrand said.

"It's going to be hard work over the next three days because there's no sign of the wind decreasing. But you have to keep concentrating. I'm hitting the ball very well so I don't mind if the wind keeps blowing."

Nine players were at 69, including England's Andrew Sherborne and David Gilford and Jay Townsend of the United States. Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain was at 71 and countryman Seve Ballesteros at 72.