Callum Shinkwin and Matt Wallace have given themselves a promising platform to build from after the opening round of the Qatar Masters.

Bushey golfer Shinkwin shot a four-under-par 68 to end the opening round in a large group tied for 15th, while Moor Park club-mate Wallace will go into his second 18 holes one shot further back on three-under.

Having started his campaign from the 10th, Shinkwin made a flying start and birdied three of his first four holes to race to three-under; a four at his par five opening hole was followed with a three at the par four 12th and a birdie two at 13.

The 24-year-old’s progress was slowed by back-to-back bogeys on the par four 14 and 15th holes, but consecutive birdies at the par five 18th and first got him back to three-under.

The former English Amateur champion, who made a good start to last week’s Oman Open before dropping back, was to make a third bogey at the par three fourth. But he finished his first round in encouraging fashion, with birdies at the par four seventh and par five ninth.

Wallace also started from the 10th and like his fellow Moor Park-attached professional, also started well on his ‘front’ nine.

The 27-year-old made a birdie-birdie start at the 10th and par four 11th before picking up two further shots at the par four 16th and on 18 to go ‘out’ in a four-under score of 32.

And four-under looked increasingly set to be his score at the end of the first day, but his sole blemish at the par four seventh saw Wallace finish on minus-three and in a tie for 40th.

The first round ended with Englishmen Eddie Pepperell and Aaron Rai alongside France's Gregory Havret in a three-way share of the lead on seven-under.