Fox in contention at tour qualifying school

Scottish amateur champion Graham Gordon taught the professionals a few tricks in the opening round of the European Tour's qualifying…

Scottish amateur champion Graham Gordon taught the professionals a few tricks in the opening round of the European Tour's qualifying school stage two at St Cyprien in southern France today.

The 23-year-old from Aberdeen, part of August's victorious Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup side, fired a sparkling eight-under-par 65 to share top spot with Sweden's Mattias Eliasson.

The leading duo are one shot ahead of the Frenchman Sebastien Branger and South Africa's Nico Le Grange.

Ireland's Noel Fox is well in contention on three under par while Michael Hoey and Damian Mooney are a further shot behind on two under.

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Richie Coughlan, first out this morning, struggled with his game and is well down the field on two over par after a 75. He is joined on that mark by compatriots Ciaran McMonagle and Stephen Browne.

There is a three way tie for the lead at Perelada in southern Spain. Swedish duo Magnus Carlsson and Christian Nilsson both posted six-under 65s and were joined at the top of the standings by former Italian PGA champion Michele Reale, a two time winner on the European Challenge Tour.

Welsh Walker Cup star Stuart Manley, Scotsman Alan McLean and England's Matthew Cort are all one shot off the pace while former US Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson opened with a 67.

Ireland's David Higgins is six shots off the lead after shooting a level par 71 today.

At the nearby Torremirona course, Sweden's Fredrik Orest, back at the tour school having lost his card this year, stormed to the head of the field with an eight-under 64 to lead by a stroke from from American Josh Habig.

England's Tom Whitehouse, the winner of the PGA EuroPro Tour's order of merit this season, and former Scottish Amateur champion Barry Hume both opened with 67s.

Chris Devlin is the only Irish player to feature at Torremirona and finished his first round one under par.