SHAW Hill golfer Nick Dougherty made a steady start to the Qatar Masters in Doha.

He shot a three under par first round 69 to be placed in the pack chasing the leaders.

Swedish pair Joakim Haeggman and Klas Eriksson plus Sheffield's Mark Roe were setting the pace at six under par.

Roe was among 39 players forced to finish their first rounds at the crack of dawn today after a delay of almost two hours on Thursday morning due to fog.