Staunton doubles Q-School lead

Mark Staunton can cleary see he’s on course to make it to stage two of the European Tour Q-School. Picture courtesy Mark StauntonGalwayman Mark Staunton doubled his overnight lead at the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School when he added a second round 68 to his opening 67 to move six shots clear of the field in Scotland.

The 30-year old Ballinasloe professional birdied the first, second, fourth and sixth before a bogey at the eight saw him turn in 33 at the Roxburghe Hotel in Kelso.

Birdies at the 10th and 11th set him up for a low round but while he bogeyed the 12th, a solid finish gave him a four under par round and a six-stroke lead over Scot Neil Fenwick on nine-under par. {Scores}

The leading nine players and ties will progress to the second stage and Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe made a positive move with a two under 70 leaving him tied for fourth on one-under.

Belfast’s Damien Mooney (74) and Waterville’s Mark Murphy (72) are just a stroke outside the leading nine and ties on two over.

“Playing really well just not making it happen, yet,” Murphy wrote on a social media site after carding one birdie and one bogey. “Look out. I know i have a low one in me the next few days.”

There are no Irish players in action in the other Section A qualifier at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Austria.  {Scores}

Sweden’s Krister Eriksson added a 64 to his opening 66 to lead by one stroke from Austria’s Jurgen Maurer on 14 under par at a venue where the leading 15 players and ties will progress to the second stage.