Alvaro Quiros stormed through the front nine in just 31 strokes at Doha Golf Club to take the lead in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters Presented by Dolphin Energy.
The big hitting Spaniard reached the turn five under for the day and 13 under for the tournament, a one shot advantage over overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen.
Portugal Masters winner Quiros – the longest hitter on The European Tour – started with consecutive birdies and followed up with three more at the fourth, sixth and eighth.
South African Oosthuizen was level par for his round at the turn, leaving him 12 under, with Holland’s Maarten Lafeber a shot further back having played ten holes.
Australian Aaron Baddeley lies ten under after 14 holes, with World Number Ten Lee Westwood and former champions Henrik Stenson and Andrew Coltart all nine under.
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño held the clubhouse lead after a 67 took him to eight under for the week.
