Callum Shinkwin’s good early-season form has continued after a bogey-free four-under-par round of 68 left him usefully placed in a large group in a share of 14th place, four shots off the lead after the first 18 holes of the Qatar Masters.

The Bushey professional also opened up with a 68 in his opening event of the European Tour season last week, the Abu Dhabi Championship, and went on to finish in a tie for 23rd on Sunday.

The Moor Park Golf Club professional got off to the ideal start today by opening up with back-to-back birdies on the par five first hole and par four second.

The 23-year-old then played par golf until he reached the par three 13th where he made his third birdie of the round and the fourth followed at the par four 16th.

Shinkwin was one of 15 players to finish the first round on four-under as Wales’ Bradley Dredge set the early pace on eight-under, one shot clear of Finland’s Mikko Korhonen.