Stunning 64 sees Quiros lead in Qatar

Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros blazed a stunning bogey-free, eight-under-par 64 to head into the final round of the Qatar Masters with a one-stroke lead over South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.

The 26-year-old Portugal Masters champion leapt to the top of the leaderboard on 16-under after following up his second-round 67, while halfway pace-setter Oosthuizen carded a solid 69 to remain in the hunt for his maiden European Tour title.

Holland's Maarten Lafeber and 2006 Qatar champion Henrik Stenson sit tied for third at 12-under after each recording 66.

Inaugural tournament champion Andrew Coltart, who began the day three shots back of Oosthuizen in second, finished strongly with two birdies in three holes to creep up to 11-under after a third-round 70.

"I'm very happy," said Quiros. "I worked hard last week and it looks like the scores are starting to come."

Quiros is the longest hitter on the European Tour and while he lived up to the billing today, his skill on the green proved the key to his third-round success with two mammoth 20-foot birdie putts coupled with several calm close-range finishes.

The Spaniard did though ride his luck for the second day in a row as, after yesterday watching a drive rebound off a rock and back onto the fairway, he today avoided a penalty drop despite his wayward drive down the ninth fairway landing up a tree.

Senior referee Andy McFee was forced to hand Quiros the free drop and two club lengths' relief instead of the usual one-shot penalty as the tree was staked.

He almost took full advantage of the break as he left a birdie putt on the edge of the hole despite hacking his second shot onto a cart path.

World number two Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Australia's Aaron Baddeley all carded third-round 67s to move up into a group at nine under.

After following up his opening five-under-par effort with a disappointing 73 yesterday, world number 10 Westwood did not drop a shot as the form which saw him record 13 top-10 finishes last year returned to put him in contention to end his 14-month winless streak.

"It was quite good, I hit a lot good shots. It wasn't playing particularly easy - there were a few tricky holes," he said. "I did feel like I could have shot better, if I shot 64 that would have felt better.

"I've been playing solid lately and I've been giving myself a chance every week, so sooner or later I'm going to take one of these chances."

Garcia's effort came after back-to-back 70s from the Spaniard, but it could have been better for the Race to Dubai leader as he dropped a shot at the last after finding water.

"It's disappointing because I hit such a good tee shot at the last. I also hit a good second but the ball just went exactly the opposite way I wanted it to go, it's one of those things," he said.

"It would have been nice to make the putt to save par, but I have made a good move today.

"I hit a lot of good putts, unfortunately there were one or two putts that should have gone in but didn't.

"I hope there is something there for me on Sunday. I definitely feel like I'm playing well enough to do it so I hope that I go out there and play like I did today and hole some putts."