Oosthuizen steals the thunder in Doha

By Patrick CHARTERS

GOLF: DOHA, Jan 24, 2009 - South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen stormed into a three-shot lead at the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Masters with a sensational second round performance at the Doha Golf Club on Friday.

Former world junior champion Oosthuizen, who was in joint second place with four others at the end of the first round, shot a seven under par-65 to stamp his authority in Doha a week after finishing runner-up in neighbouring Abu Dhabi.

"It feels good. It was an excellent day for me," Oosthuizen said. "Hopefully I can maintain my form over the next two days."

Oosthuizen had a bogey-free round, shooting birdies on the fourth, eighth, ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th and 16th holes as he carded the best round of the tournament so far to set himself up nicely with an aggregate of 12 under par 132.

Speaking about his good form, Oosthuizen said it was his aggression on the course that stood him in good stead.

"The way I handle myself around the course, thinking that - I'm used to being very aggressive on the course, taking on every shot.

"I try and stick with it, knowing, too, I can make 20-footers for birdie. So I just try to get myself into position on the green.

"Other than that, I had a very big temper on me about two or three years back, because I was frustrated that I'm not better than the way I played, and now I handle myself much better on the course and I try to enjoy myself much more and I'm definitely having fun."

Oosthuizen, whose four victories so far have come on the Sunshine tour in South Africa, leads Scotland's Andrew Coltart, who is in second spot, with 135, while Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Australian Brett Rumford are in joint third with 136.

Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 71 to be on 137

Earlier, Coltart continued his resurgence after several years of struggle by shooting a 69.

The Scot, among the early starters, was lucky to finish his second round as steady rain began falling late morning threatening to disrupt play at some stage.

Though the sky cleared up late in the afternoon, it was quite a remarkable change in the weather as Thursday's play went without a hitch in perfect sunny conditions.

Coltart, the inaugural Qatar Masters winner in 1998, had shot a 66 in the first round to share the lead with Swede Henrik Stenson and Jimenez and on Friday he was wary of getting ahead of himself at this stage.

"Obviously being out of the frame for a while, and then being in the frame, you have just got to be aware of what you're faced with at the minute and do your best and concentrate your hardest on what you're facing right there and then," the Scot, who lost his Tour card and then reclaimed it last year, said.

Coltart said he was still figuring out the finer aspects of the game despite being on the tour for long.

"No, it's not easy at all. Still 17, 18 years on the job, still learning. You can always do a little bit better with it."

Coltart, who had an eagle on Thursday, shot four birdies on Friday, his best effort coming on the 12th hole when he made up for a terrible tee shot with a fine 40-yard chip to get close.

"That felt good," he said.

Quiros, who shot 69 in the first round went better with a 67.

"Today was my day," said Quiros."I was playing well last week, too, and I didn't have any luck. And yesterday, I played good again and I didn't have luck, either."

England's Paul Broadhurst, the Netherlands' Maarten Lafeber, Ireland's Damien McGrane, Thailand's Nirat Chapchai, Australia's Rodney Pampling and Sweden's Henrik Stenson are in a bunch of six with 138.

Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey missed the cut after scores of 76 and 69, joining such high profile names as Colin Montgomerie, Boo Weekley, Darren Clarke and Justin Rose. AFP