Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Thai) shot a four under par first round 68 to lead by one in the $2.5 million International Series – Qatar on the Asian Tour.

The host venue, Doha Golf Club presented a stiff challenge with strong winds that are forecast to continue all week. Forecasts are predicting winds of around 40 km per hour overnight which will stay strong all day tomorrow.

Yongcharoenchai in his third event of the season, with an afternoon start, teed off from the 10th tee, and made five birdies and one bogey hitting 12 of 18 greens.

Tied second are three players on three under par 69: Canadian Richard T.Lee, Sangmoon Bae from Korea and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who all had morning tee times.

Lee is a two time winner on the Asian Tour and three time winner on the Korean Tour and shot a five birdie round, where only 17 players broke par from a field of 132 players.

Bae, who finished tied 36th last week in Oman, had nines of 36 and 33, highlighted with an eagle three on the 18th hole.

Khongwatmai, with one win on the Asian Tour and 22 top 10 finishes, had six birdies and three bogeys to match the leading score.

Major champion Charl Schwartzel (RSA) was one of four players, one back of the leaders, alongside fellow countryman 47 year-old Darren Fichardt, who won the 2003 Qatar Masters over the same golf course.

Dubai based Shiv Kapur, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Sunday, shot a most patient level par 72, with 16 pars, a solitary bogey and a birdie two on 17 hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation.

Shiv’s tee off time tomorrow is at 7.10 am off tee 10, and currently lies tied 18th.

First Round Scores (Par 72, 7,437 Yards)S. Yongcharoeenchal (Thai) 68R. T. Lee (Can) 69S. Bae (Kor) 69P. Khongwatmai (Thai) 69C. Schwartzel (RSA) 70D. Fichardt (RSA) 70T. Smyth (Aus) 70