Gonzalo shines in Qatar

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Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leads by one shot after the first round of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha. Ping K15 Hybrid


The Spaniard shot a superb six-under-par 66 at a windswept Doha Golf Club on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over American John Daly, who led for most of the round after posting his 67 earlier in the day.

Korean K.J. Choi and Australian Jason Day, ranked 13th and 10th in the world respectively, both shot four-under 68s to share third place, while five players posted 69s - Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Scot Paul Lawrie, Sweden\'s Peter Hanson and Englishmen Richard Finch and Danny Willett. Ping K15 Hybrid


Daly, ranked 543rd in the world, looked almost certain to hold on to his lead as conditions out on the course grew progressively worse. Strong winds blew sand around and into the faces of the players, many of whom took to wearing sunglasses to limit the irritation. Cameramen and many spectators wore masks to stop the sand.

\"I\'ve sand in places I didn\'t know I had places,\" said Lawrie. Ping K15 Hybrid


But Castano, currently on course for a Ryder Cup debut later this year, defied the conditions to birdie four of his last five holes and take sole possession of the first-round lead.

He had nine birdies in all in his remarkable round, but also bogeyed on the fourth, the long tenth and the 13th.

\"I would have taken level par,\" he said.

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