Paul Dunne put his slow start behind him at the second stage of European Tour qualifying school in Spain on Saturday with a five-under-par round of 66 moving him up to a share of 13th position at Lumine Golf & Beach Club.
The 22-year-old from Greystones opened with a one-under 71 but he started his second round with conviction, firing birdies at his first two holes, the 10th and 11th, to move to three under.
His only bogey of the day came at the 15th but he birdied the par-five 18th for the second day to turn in two-under 34. He would make it a hat-trick of birdies with gains on the first and second holes, with the final birdie of his round coming at the fifth.
Fellow Walker Cup winner Gary Hurley is two shots behind Dunne in a tie for 31st position on four under after carding a one-under 70 , while Alan Dunbar is a shot further back after a level-par second round of 71.
Headfort's Brian Casey continued his great showing at Panoramica in Castellon, adding a four-under 68 to his opening 65 to move to 11 under and third place on his own. Spanish amateur Scott Fernandez continues to lead the way, a 66 moving him to 16 under.
Naas amateur Jack Hume had an eagle three on his card, but his three birdies were cancelled out by three bogeys as he signed for a two-under 70and a share of 41st position on two under.
Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell is a shot behind after a three-over 75 that featured a double-bogey on the par-three third hole.
Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell fell back down the field after a 76 left him on level par after his opening 68.
Chris Selfridge leads the Irish challenge at the links at El Saler in Valencia, the Moyola Park golfer carding a three-under 69 to move into a tie for fifth position.
The Island's Gavin Moynihan got to seven under with three birdies in his first six holes, but a double-bogey six on the second hole was followed by two bogeys as the Walker cup player carded a one-over 73 to slip back to three under and a tie for 15th position.
Michael McGeady will need two low rounds to stand any chance after a 73 left him back on five over.
Banbridge golfer Richard Kilpatrick and Rory McNamara, who is attached to La Cala in Spain, are both in share of 46th spot at Las Colinas after rounds of 72 and 70 respectively.
Meanwhile, Rosapenna’s Ruaidhrí McGee finished in a tie for 12th position in the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Oman, missing out on a Top 15 place in the rankings and Category 13 exemption for the 2016 European Tour.
McGee finished in 27th position, earning the lesser Category 16 playing privileges for next season, but he will look to earn full playing rights at the Tour School Final at PGA Catalunya later this month.
