Des Smyth says a positive result in the final European Seniors Tour event of the season - The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, Seniors Tour Championship - will help redeem his 2007 campaign when he sits back at his home in Drogheda over the winter break and analyses his golfing year.

Smyth, who won the Seniors Tour Championship two years ago at Riffa Views in Bahrain, is lying six shots off the lead set by Scotland's John Chillas and Argentina's Adan Sowa, who both shot five-under-par 67 at the Buckinghamshire yesterday.

The pair are one ahead of Scotland's Sam Torrance and American Doug Johnson, who both fired four under par 68, while South Africa's John Bland, Australian duo Stewart Ginn and David Merriman, plus England's Andrew Murray, are all one further back after shooting 69.

Smyth's compatriot Denis O'Sullivan leads the Irish challenge after he carded a first round of one-under-par 71 , while Eamonn Darcy shot a five over par 77.

Sion Bebb's drive towards regaining his European Tour card continued in impressive fashion as he opened up a commanding lead over the rest of the field during the second round of the qualifying school stage two in Spain.

The 39-year-old Welshman, who lost his playing rights this season after finishing 155th on the order of merit, fired a four-under 68 at Sherry Golf Jerez for an 11-under aggregate of 133.

It gave him a six-shot advantage over Argentina's Emilio Dominguez, Sarel Son-Houi of France, Fredrik Orest of Sweden and Irish amateur Peter O'Keeffe from Douglas.

Damien Mooney is four shots off the lead at Ballena after a second round 73 for 138. Australian Adam Bland leads the way on a 10-under 134 after a second successive 67.

Lee James, the former Amateur champion, lurks in second on 136 after a 67 while former British Boys' champion Rhys Davies shares 10th on 140.