Gonzalo burst secures lead
Spaniard defies strong winds to top day one leaderboard in Qatar
Last Updated: February 2, 2012 2:33pm
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano: Superb performance in tough conditions
Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano produced a flying finish to snatch the lead from John Daly after the opening round of the Qatar Masters in windy Doha.
Daly had made the morning headlines when taking the clubhouse lead with a bogey-free 67 - a round which the now world number 543 said had "shocked" him.
But despite the heavy winds picking up further in the afternoon, Fernandez-Castano managed to make nine birdies, including four in his last six holes, to card a six-under 66 and secure a one-shot advantage.
First round leaderboard
(GB & Ire unless stated)
-6 G Fernandez-Castano (Spa)
-5 J Daly (US)
-4 KJ Choi (Kor)
-4 J Day (Aus)
-3 N Colsaerts (Bel)
-3 P Lawrie
-3 P Hanson (Swe)
-3 R Finch
Korean KJ Choi and Aussie Jason Day are a shot back in third but some of the other big names struggled in the brutal conditions, none more so than in-form defending champion Thomas Bjorn, who returned a seven-over 79.
"I would have taken level par all day," said Fernandez-Castano when asked what score he had in mind when setting off in the fierce gusts.
However, he reached the turn in 33 with birdies at eight and nine and realised he could keep it going on the back nine.
"I started with a silly bogey on 10, a par five, but I bounced back with a nice birdie on the 11th and then three finishing birdies, that was pretty impressive. I'm impressed too," said Fernandez-Castano.
As for the key to his score, he said: "I managed to hole some important putts. For me that's the most difficult thing on windy days because it's difficult to judge if it's going to be the break or the wind that's going to move the ball."
The group in tied fifth - thee shots back after 69s - includes another player noted for his skills in the wind, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie.
Lawrie, who won this event in 1999, said: "I've sand in places I didn't know I had places.
Blowing a hoolie
"The first five holes were flat calm, but then all of a sudden it was blowing a hoolie. I played nicely, but left a few out there as I always do."
Spain's Alvaro Quiros - first, second and second the last three years - was going well again but double-bogeyed the short eighth and then four-putted the par-five ninth after reaching the green with two mighty hits.
He was round in a level-par 72, the same as Sergio Garcia who bogeyed the last two.
Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood signed for a 71 while Graeme McDowell and Retief Goosen recorded one-over 73s, American Hunter Mahan a 74 and Swede Robert Karlsson a 78.
