Golf: NZers off the pace at Qatar

Michael Campbell. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's golf elite really should have done better in the first round of the Qatar Open at Doha today.

The first round of the latest Middle Eastern stop on the European Tour presented the field with challenging 25km/h winds, which Michael Campbell and Mark Brown would have appreciated given they were raised and learned how to play the game in windblown Wellington.

But neither got on top of the conditions, instead tumbling to placings in the mid and lower pack as multiple major winner, Retief Goosen, of South Africa, topped the leaderboard with a three-under-par 69.

Brown was the equal best of three New Zealanders chasing their share of the US$2.5 million ($3.23 million) purse, his three-over 75 leaving him in a share of 52nd place and one shot better than that managed by 20-year-old compatriot Danny Lee.

Campbell was another four shots behind Brown in a tie for 113th after presenting a card featuring two birdies, one double bogey and seven bogeys.

- NZPA