A 13-year-old golfer shot 3-over 75 in the first round of the Qatar Masters on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to give himself a chance of making the weekend in just his second appearance in a European tour event.

The Indian duo of Shubhankar Sharma and Veer Ahlawat was off to a nightmarish start at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as the two golfers returned over-par cards dotted with several bogeys here. The Indians struggled at the Doha Golf Club course as Sharma shot three-over 75 in the opening round

“The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is a cornerstone of our sporting calendar, embodying Qatar's growing legacy as a premier destination for world-class events. Hosting this milestone 28th edition at Doha Golf Club is a testament to our commitment to excellence in golf,” he said.

Sokolov played the Qatar Masters last year, at the age of 12, and also missed the cut after shooting rounds of 78 and 82. They are his only two appearances on the European tour. English golfer Brandon Robinson Thompson was leading by two strokes on 10 under after shooting 68 in his second round.