DOHA, 13 March 2004 — Nobuhito Sato of Japan celebrated his 34th birthday in style with a two-under-par 70 for a share of the lead in a five-way tie after the second round of the $1.5 million Qatar Masters yesterday.

The other co-leaders on 138 at the halfway stage were Scot Andy Oldcorn, former Augusta Masters champion Ian Woosnam of Wales, Frenchman Gregory Havret and Gary Murphy of Ireland.

The mood was somber at the Doha Golf Course as news about the rising death toll from the Madrid bombings filtered in. The Spanish flag flew at half-mast and the golfers were to observe a minute’s silence during the third round today as a mark of respect for the 198 victims.

However, it was a day of joy for Sato who is playing in only his third European Tour event. The rookie followed up his Thursday round of 68 with another impeccable show. The Tokyo-based Sato’s slate was clean on the front nine and two birdies on the way in lent respectability to his score. Woosnam, who has missed the last four cuts, ran back into form with another 69, comprising three birdies and a bogey. Another overnight leader Oldcorn, who is still coming to terms with the loss of his exemption to the British Open, impressed with a two-under-par 70.

Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a second round 68 to follow his first round even-par score. Fellow Spaniard Ignacio Garrido was level par in the second round after a 71 on Thursday.

Trailing the leaders by a stroke was a cluster of 14 players, which included defending champion Darren Fichardt of South Africa (70, 69) who won the title last year in a sudden-death playoff. The biggest movers of the day were Swede Joakim Haeggman and Jonathan Lomas of England who carded an excellent eight-under-par 64 in balmy and serene early morning conditions.

Swedish Secret Pettersson

Grabs PGA Tour Lead

In Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, little known even in his home country, fired a nine-under 63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Honda Classic.

In his second year on the US tour, Pettersson played a bogey-free first round and birdied three of the last four holes to set a course record at the Sunrise Course at the Country Club of Mirasol. He has finished no better than 24th in six starts this season.

Rookie Mark Hensby of Australia, who finished seventh on the 2003 Nationwide Tour money list, carded a 65 for sole possession of second place, one shot ahead of American Steve Flesch, Swede Jesper Parnevik and Rory Sabbatini. Parnevik admitted he does not know much about his countryman Pettersson.

Lee Flirts With 59, Shoots 60

at LPGA Season Opener

In Tucson, Arizona, South Korea’s Jung Yeon Lee flirted with a 59 before settling for a 60 Thursday as she matched the course record and took a three-shot first-round lead in the opening event of the LPGA season.

Her 10-under effort included two eagles and six birdies at the Dell Urich Golf Course to match the record set last year by Meg Malon. Kristi Albers aso shot 10-under in 1998 when the course was a par-72 layout.

England’s Karen Stupples also had a career-best round, birding six of the last 11 holes for a seven-under 63 that gave her sole possession of second place. England’s Laura Davies shared third on 65 with South Korean Jeon Seol-an.