Flying Graham Fox closes in on leading pack

Graham Fox's bid for a place on the European Tour gathered pace in the second round of the qualifying school stage two in Spain yesterday.

The former Scotland amateur cap fired a four-under 67 at El Valle in Murcia for a three-under 139.

Fox, making his 11th appearance in the q-school contest, moved up into a share of seventh, five shots behind halfway leaders Raphael De Sousa of Switzerland and Denmark's Mads Dam.

Carnoustie rookie Keir McNicoll slipped out of the qualifying zone with a 74 for 145 while former Scottish Amateur champion Callum Macaulay, runner-up in the Madeira Islands Open on the tour last year, had a 71 for 147. Macaulay's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team-mate Gavin Dear struggled to a 76 and is toiling down on the 154 mark.

Scottish PGA champion Chris Doak sits in 25th place at Arcos Gardens in Jerez after a two-over 74 left him on a two-over 146, six shots behind frontrunner Christophe Brazillier.

Elliot Saltman leads the Scots at Hacienda Del Alamo on a one-under 143 after a 72 but is still outside the qualifying places in a share of 35th, eight shots behind co-leaders Paul Dwyer and Luis Claverie.