Simon Thornton leads Irish challenge at Qualifying School in Spain

Simon Thornton is best of the Irish after the opening two rounds of the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in north-east Spain.

He carded a blemish-free round of three under on the easier Tour course for four under overall, and a tie for 29th.

He’s still outside the top 25 and ties who will secure playing rights for the European Tour in 2016 but he gave himself every chance of making that by turning on level par before shooting three birdies on the closing nine.