Irish trio in hunt for tour school places

FORMER Walker Cup player Noel Fox, fellow Dubliner Eamonn Brady and David Mortimer, the Galway-born Newlands club professional, battled back into contention for places in the European Tour School at San Roque next week with excellent rounds in yesterday’s second day of pre-qualifying at the Costa Ballena course near Cadiz in the south of Spain.

Spain's Carlos De Corral leads at Costa Ballena after splendid rounds of 65 and 67 to stand ten under par. Twenty-one places are available at three courses and Fox, Brady and Mortimer recovered yesterday from a slightly shaky start to move up to a share of 19th place on six under par.

Mortimer shot 67, Fox was round in 68 and Brady, 69, while Jimmy Bolger, the pro at Kilkenny, also gave himself a decent chance of progressing thanks to yesterday's 68 for five under.