Michael Hoey eight off pace at Qatar Masters after 74

Michael Hoey is eight shots off the pace at the Qatar Masters after a two-over-par 74 on Friday left him sharing 39th place after the third round.

Hoey started the day seven off the pace but his hopes of moving up the leaderboard were hit by successive bogeys at the fourth and fifth.

The Belfast man's two back-nine birdies were offset by bogeys on 16 and 18.

Simon Thornton matched Hoey's 74 which also left him eight behind the leaders on four under.

County Down-based Thornton's hopes of mounting a charge were dashed as his third-hole bogey was followed by two more dropped shots at the sixth.

Last year's St Omer Open winner did manage two birdies on his back nine but the damage had already been done by that stage.

Overnight leader Rafa Bello-Cabrera stay in a share of the lead on 12 under despite hitting a 73 on Friday.

The Spaniard has been joined at the top by England's Steve Webster who fired a 70.

French rookie Adrien Saddier charged up the field to share third place on 11 under after a superb 64 on Friday which left him alongside Norway's Thorbjorn Olesen and South African Thomas Aiken.

Saddier's round included seven successive threes on the front nine.

Scotland's Paul Lawrie was in a five-strong group on 10 under while Sergio Garcia was a further stroke back on nine under.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley stayed on one under after a 72 on Friday.