Ashun Wu and Zander Lombard tied at the top

Ashun Wu and Zander Lombard both carded flawless 5-under 67s to take a share of the lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

“It was a great day today. A lot of greens, a lot of quality shots – on the tees, on the fairways and good putts too. Five birdies and bogey-free today is a really good start,” said Wu.

“I wasn’t here last year but I think the course has changed a little bit, moved the tee a little bit further back and made the fairways a bit wider and more water around the greens so it is great right now, it is perfect.”

China’s Wu played early and held the lead for most of the day before South Africa’s Lombard defied the afternoon winds to join him.

“Just really solid. I think I only missed two greens where I had to chip and the other one was just off and I putted it, so it was stress-free and a lot of lagged putts and the greens are beautiful, so slick and fast, so everything looks like its rolling in at the moment,” said Lombard.

“I’ve got no weakness in the bag at the moment. Everything is really good and nothing that is really great so I put it down to real consistency over the last six months, so hopefully keep doing what I’m doing.”

France’s Clément Sordet briefly joined Wu in the lead through 15 holes but ended the day with six birdies and two bogeys for a share of third place at 4-under alongside Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard, South Africa’s Jaco Prinsloo and Australia’s Haydn Barron.