DOHA, February 4, 2012 (AFP) - Former champion Paul Lawrie made his way up the leaderboard at the Qatar Masters on Saturday as golfers made a desperate bid to make the cut after the tournament was reduced to 54 holes.
Lawrie, who won the event in 1999 and later that year went on to claim the British Open, was six under after 11 holes in the second round to share the lead with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, South Africa's James Kingston, Sweden's Peter Hanson and Argentinean Ricardo Gonzalez.
Marcel Siem of Germany with five under was in second position with a clutch of eight players.
Lawrie, however, has seven more holes to go in the second round and could consolidate his position further in much calmer conditions at the Doha Golf Club following Friday's blowout when 45mph winds forced the cancellation of play.
Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who lead at six under after the first round, failed to capitalise on his advantage, shooting a 75 on Saturday to slip to three under, while John Daly, who had stroked a 67 in atrocious conditions on Thursday, dropped two shots in 15 holes to slip down to three under.
World number three Lee Westwood was also on three under after completing his second round.
Leading scores from the Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club on Saturday.
136 - Paul Lawrie (SCO) 69-67
137 - Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 69-68
138 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 69-69, Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 71-67
139 - James Kingston (RSA) 70-69, Simon Khan (ENG) 71-68
140 - David Lynn (ENG) 71-69, Jason Day (AUS) 68-72, Maarten Lafeber(NED) 72-68, Marc Warren (SCO) 72-68, Marcel Siem (GER) 71-69, John Daly (USA) 67-73, Anthony Wall (ENG) 74-66, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 71-69, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 72-68, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 72-68
141 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 72-69, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 71-70, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 66-75, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-70, Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 71-70, Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 71-70, Martin Kaymer (GER) 71-70, Ben Curtis (USA) 71-70, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 72 69