Chapman in unfamiliar territory

England’s Roger Chapman, who waited 472 events for his first European tour victory and has played 100 more without further success, moved into contention for the Qatar Masters today.

The 44-year-old, whose lone win came in Brazil four years ago, produced a third round 66 in Doha to reach the nine under par mark of 207.

It put him one behind Swede Joakim Haeggman and France’s Raphael Jacquelin, both of whom were still out on the course.

Chapman confesses he was cheered by seeing 47-year-old Mark O’Meara win the Dubai Desert Classic last Sunday.

“Anybody who does well at 45 and above gives you confidence and heart,” said a player now in his 23rd season on the circuit.

He gave encouragement to journeymen everywhere in 2000, capturing his maiden title just a few months after having to return to the tour qualifying school for the first time in 18 years.

“I will be 45 in May and I have to admit I’m just ticking along until the Seniors Tour (at 50). It’s much harder to compete now against the youngsters - they are hitting it so far.

“I’ve been 40 yards behind this week and I don’t consider myself short. But it’s who gets the ball into the hole quickest at the end of the day and it’s nice to be playing half-decent.

“I tried not to look at the leaderboards, but I will try to enjoy it tomorrow - if you can.”

Alongside him in the clubhouse was German Marcel Siem, who picked up his bid for a second victory of the year with a 64.

Afterwards he revealed that his incentive was to afford the luxury hotel rooms he has unintentionally found himself in this week.

Having made the halfway cut in the Qatar Masters with nothing to spare at one under par, Siem charged through the field with eight birdies in his last 10 holes and even led by two at one point.

Winner of the Dunhill Championship in South Africa in January, Siem began the £780,000 event with a three over 75 and said that was caused by his fury over his accommodation.

“I arrived on Tuesday, but the hotel had cancelled my room because they expected me on Monday,” he said. “They said the only room available was a presidential suite or something for 900 dollars (€735) a night.

“I took it, but checked out the next day and moved to another hotel. But I’m paying 550 (€450) dollars a night there, so the week’s costing me over 3,000 dollars (€2,450).

“I was so angry I couldn’t get hold of my emotions in the first round and I was lucky to make the cut.”

Five players shared the overnight lead, but they all found themselves with ground to make up after slow starts to their third rounds.

Scot Andrew Oldcorn bogeyed the second and double-bogeyed the next. After nine holes he was seven adrift, as was Ireland’s Gary Murphy after he bogeyed the fifth and double-bogeyed the seventh.

Ian Woosnam mixed two birdies with two bogeys in the first four, but at six under turning for home was still in the race, while Japan’s Nobuhito Sato stood seven under and Frenchman Gregory Havret four under.