Battle hots up in qualifying race

English duo Matthew Woods and Marcus Higley share the lead going into the final round of the European Tour qualifying school stage two at the El Bosque Country Club near Valencia.

Woods posted a third round 67 for a 12-under aggregate of 204 and was joined on that mark by Higley, 30, who also fired a 67.

Welshman Stuart Manley and Ireland’s Colm Moriarty, both members of the victorious Walker Cup team last year, stayed on course to claim one of the 31 qualifying spots up for grabs as they both posted rounds of 70 to share 20th place on 210.

But Hull’s former English champion Richard Finch, who shared the lead overnight, tumbled back into the melting pot with a damaging 76 which left him tied for 26th on 211.

At Emporda, Scotsman Euan Little cemented his place at the top of the standings.

The 28-year-old, a two-time winner on the European Challenge Tour, carded a 68 to finish 16 under and share the lead with Australian Paul Marantz and Brian Akstrup of Denmark.

Frenchman Sebastien Delagrange is two shots off the pace after a 69 while Kent’s Benn Barham, a winner on the Challenge Tour in 2001, is four strokes further back on 203.

England’s Stuart Little is the clubhouse leader at the Golf Oliva Nova club after bad weather left half the field still needing to complete their third rounds.

Little posted a 67 for a 10-under total of 206 and leads by four from Wales’ two-time European Tour winner Mark Mouland who carded a 70.