Players and caddies admit defeat against the stiff desert wind

The first day's play at the Qatar Masters has been called off after a sandstorm left the course unplayable.

With winds reaching 38mph, the players were ordered off the Doha Golf Club course and told to be ready to start at 0630 local time (0330 GMT) on Friday.

At 1400 local time (1100 GMT) the second-half of the field were advised to return to their hotels as there was no chance of them starting their rounds.

The 75 players who had teed off waited to see if they could get back on the course but, although visibility improved, the strong wind prompted officials to cancel play for the day.

"There was a period when the sand was so bad that I was virtually having to close my eyes out there," said referee Andy McFee.

"There was a definite need for sunglasses and I was wondering if we wanted the players on the course."

South Africa's James Kingston leads the field on three under par after completing 13 holes.

LEADERBOARD -3 James Kingston (SA) (after 13 holes) -2 Philip Golding (Eng) (13), Henrik Stenson (Swe) (13), Fredrik Andersson (Swe) (12), Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) (6)

Kingston had reached the turn in 34 and birdied the 11th to edge in front of England's Phil Golding, Swedes Henrik Stenson and Fredrik Andersson and Belgian Nicolas Vanhootegem.

Ian Woosnam failed to make the most of an opening eagle in the morning's testing conditions.

The Welshman, who was joint third in last week's Dubai Desert Classic, sank a 15-foot putt for a three at his opening hole, the 510-yard 10th.

But bogeys followed at the 13th and 14th, and he missed two good birdie chances at the 16th and 18th before dropping another shot at the second.

Woosnam is one of the few stars appearing in an event which has been hit by 50 withdrawals due to the threat of war in Iraq.

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington was among the later starters along with Paul McGinley, who was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier in the week and withdrew from Wednesday's pro-am because he was feeling unwell.

Phillip Price, the only other member of Europe's Ryder Cup team who has decided to take part, parred his first 10 holes.

Former Open champion Justin Leonard shot a nine-under-par 63 to share the early lead in the $5m Honda Classic.

Notah Begay III and Jeff Brehaut were also on nine under par.

Starting on the 10th at the Country Club at Mirasol's Sunset Course, Leonard covered the first nine holes in just 30 shots.

LEADERBOARD (US unless stated) -9 Justin Leonard, Notah Begay III, Jeff Brehaut -8 Jim Furyk, Esteban Toledo (Mex), John Senden (Aus) -7 David Peoples, Chris Riley

He added three birdies on his second nine for a 63, his lowest round of the season.

Jim Furyk, Mexico's Esteban Toledo and Australia's John Senden finished one shot back after eight-under-par 64s before lightning caused the first round to be suspended for the day.

Thirty-eight of the 144 players in the field were left on the course and will return on Friday to complete their opening round.

Colin Montgomerie had a disappointing 72 while Justin Rose shot a 70.

Rose had an excellent short game to thank for his sub-par round.

"Overall I drove the ball okay and on the greens I was good with 24 putts, but I just did not hit enough greens in regulation," the 22-year-old Englishman said.

"I missed 10 greens but thankfully all the practice I have been putting in on my short game rescued me."