Alps Tour, Challenge Tour, European Tour, EPD TourBrian KeoghNovember 07, 2015European Tour Qualifying School, Chris Selfridge, Gavin Moynihan, Mick McGeady, Rory McNamara, Richard Kilpatrick, Brian Casey, Colm Campbell, Jack Hume, Jonny Caldwell, Paul Dunne, Gary Hurley, Alan DunbarComment

Big Q-School move for Paul Dunne — Casey, Selfridge and Moynihan also in position

Paul Dunne practicing for the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. © USGA/Chris Keane — Paul Dunne practicing for the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. © USGA/Chris Keane

Greystones Paul Dunne fired a five under 66 to ignite his European Tour card quest midway through the Second Qualifying Stage at Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona.

The Open Championship hero is one of 12 Irishmen hoping to capture one of 18 places on offer at each of the four Spanish venues for next week's Final Stage in Girona next weekend and so far only the former UAB man, Moyola Park's Chris Selfridge, The Island's Gavin Moynihan and Headfort's Brian Casey are in position to progress to the Final Stage, which starts next weekend.

Like the rest of the 267 Second Stage hopefuls, Dunne is praying he can come through this week's examination and he took a giant step in the second round, firing six birdies and just one bogey in a 66 that catapulted him 26 places up the leaderboard to tied 13th.

Dunne is inside the magic qualifying number with 36 holes remaining though his Walker Cup team mate Gary Hurley needed two late birdies to card a one under 70 and still slipped 17 places from 14th to 31st

Alan Dunbar shot a level par 71 at the same venue but crashed 20 places to tied 34th on three under.

It was also a mixed day for the Irish at the other three venues with just four of the other nine entrants breaking par.

At El Saler in Valencia, Selfridge posted a three under 69 to move up to tied fifth on five under as Moynihan fell 12 places to tied 15th after a 73.

Mick McGeady's hopes looked slim now after a 73 left him a long way from qualifying on five over while at Las Colinas in Alicante, Rory McNamara (70) and Richard Kilpatrick (72) are in trouble at tied 46th on one over.

Four Irishmen are in action at Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort in Castellan where Headfort's Brian Casey lies solo third on 11 under after he added a 68 to his opening 65.

The other three have a lot of work to do with Naas amateur and Walker Cup player Jack Hume (70) tied 41st on two under, Jonny Caldwell (75) 46th on one under and amateur Colm Campbell falling 31 places from 13th to 54th on level par.