Eamonn Brady remains the best-placed of the Irish contingent at the European Tour final qualifying school at San Roque, but the Dubliner needs to make up a substantial amount of ground over the next four days if he is to realise his dream of securing a card on next season's full tour.

A second successive 74 yesterday left Brady on 148, four-over, and positioned in tied-69th place one-third of the way into the marathon qualifying process.

England's Tom Whitehouse produced a second round 66 to surge to top of the school, establishing a two-stroke lead over his closest challenger, fellow Englishman Robert Rock.

Whitehouse had considered not playing in San Roque after already guaranteeing himself a card for next season via the Challenge Tour, where he finished 17th in the money list.

However, those players who finished between 16th and 20th on the Challenge Tour will be ranked behind the 30 card winners from tour school, and so Whitehouse decided to try to improve his status. So far, the decision would appear to be vindicated as his 66 left him on the 136 mark after two rounds.

Brady could have been in better position, as he stumbled coming in with back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes (his 15th and 16th) and then failed to birdie the par-five ninth.

For John Kelly, the club professional at St Margaret's, a second round 71 for 149, five-over, at least moved him up the field into tied-84th and something to aim for over the weekend.

Kelly's 71 was achieved on the New Course, but he returns to the Old Course for today's third round as players alternate between the two for the opening four rounds.

Philip Walton struggled again yesterday, firing a second round 74 for 152, eight-over, to be tied-117th, while Colm Moriarty recorded a second 80 to be on 160, in 154th place. Moriarty has the consolation of knowing he has a card for the Challenge Tour next season.