McGeady groomed for Q-School success

Mick McGeady surged ahead in his European Tour card quest and confessed: It’s easier than walking up the aisle. Live scoring

The Derry ace, 30, tied the knot with fiancée Lisa Brown less than a week before beginning his Qualifying School bid in Spain.

But after a level par 72 helped him cruise into the last two rounds of the 108-hole marathon, he’s determined to finish inside the magical top-30 who will earn their tour cards at PGA Golf de Catalunya on Tuesday night.

Leading the Irish challenge in joint 19th on seven-under, McGeady said: “If the tour school was like a wedding, I’d be number one all the time. Getting married is nerve-wracking but this is a different kind of pressure.

“I didn’t really take advantage of all the chances I had and I burned a lot of edges. But I’ve got through the first part and the tournament really starts from here. Hopefully I can go on and get my card.”

All four Irish hopefuls made the top 70 and ties that qualified for last two rounds with Ulstermen Jonny Caldwell and Michael Hoey tied for 23rd on six-under and Simon Thornton sneaking through on the one-under par cut mark.

Two under for the day after 12 holes, Hoey was hit hard by consecutive double bogeys at the 13th and 14th but birdied the 15th and then rolled in a 12 footer for another birdie at the last to post a level par 72.

Hoey said: “I putted into the water on the 13th from about 60 feet and then went from a fairway bunker to trees on the next. In the circumstances it was quite a good 72 to be honest.”

Caldwell posted a rollercoaster 74 that included five dropped shots in a four hole stretch around the turn.

But he bounced back by hitting a five iron to eight feet for an eagle three at the 15th and then birdied the 16th.

He said: “That repaired some of the earlier damage. It’s a set back and I’ve still made the cut, which was the main objective.”

Royal County Down based Yorkshireman Thornton, guaranteed his Challenge Tour card when he made the cut on one-under par mark after a solid level par 72.

England's Danny Willett leads the field by a shot on 16-under par following a 70 with former Ryder Cup stars Andrew Coltart and Joakim Haeggman tied for 13th place on eight-under.