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

Par 72 Prize Money £600,000

Third Round Report

Third Round Scores
Second Round Report
Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Sherborne maintains two-stroke lead going into the final round

Doha, Qatar, 6th March 1998 - Andrew Sherborne shot a 4-under-par 68 today to maintain his two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Qatar Masters.

Sherborne, who shot a 64 to take the lead Friday, had his first bogey of the week, a 5 on the par-4 11th, but finished with a birdie on 18 for the second straight day to take a 15-under 201 into Sunday's final round.

Scotland's Andrew Coltart shot 65 and Patrik Sjoland of Sweden a 67 to tie for second at 13-under 203.

Paolo Quirici of Switzerland, Ian Woosnam of Wales and Dutchman Rolf Muntz were another three strokes back. Quirici, who was alone in second after Friday's round, shot 71 while Woosnam had a 69 and Muntz a 66.

England's David Carter had the best round of the day at 8-under 64 including nine birdies, but was still seven strokes off the lead.

The 36-year-old Sherborne, who is bidding to win his first PGA European Tour title since the 1992 Spanish Open, said today's round was a struggle.

"I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I was on Friday. I started and finished well, but it was just the bit in the middle that concerned me," he said.

Sherborne birdied two of his first three holes and three of his last four, but had none from holes Nos. 4-14, and even bogeyed 11.

Coltart, who is still in contention to win the Australian Order of Merit despite choosing to play in Qatar this week, knocked in seven birdies in his round of 65.

"I was only in trouble once down the fifth hole when I hit a poor drive into the sand and tried to manufacture a shot," he said. "But I'm in the position I want to be. I'm playing well. On Sunday I have to make sure I play my own game."