Carrickfergus’ Ross Oliver fired a three-under par 69 to move into the qualifying places at the halfway stage of the European Tour School’s First Qualifying Stage Section B qualifier at Wychwood Park.

The top 25 and ties progress to December’s Second Sage from the Cheshire venue and Europro Tour regular Oliver, 24, is tied for 23rd on the current one-over par target score, nine strokes behind leader Steve Uzzell.

Stephen Grant started well at the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Germany. Picture by Pat Cashman, courtesy of the Golfing Union of Ireland.Former professional footballer Stephen Grant is the only Irish player inside the qualifying places after the opening rounds of the Section B qualifiers in the First Stage of the European Tour School.