Peter Lawrie continued to be the pick of the Irish challengers after the second day of stage two of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School in the north of Spain yesterday.

Lawrie, who was exempt straight to stage two thanks to his success on the Asian PGA Tour last year, bettered his opening day 70 by one stroke yesterday at Peralada on the Costa Brava.

It gave him a five-under-par total of 139 and a share of 13th place overall, five shots adrift of the leader, Kenneth Ferrie, of England, who posted a 66 for 134.

Elsewhere at Peralada, the news was not so encouraging for the Irish challenge with all three players finding themselves outside the top 29 who will automatically qualifying for the Final Qualifying School at San Roque in three weeks time, after tomorrow's fourth and final round.

Kilkenny's Gary Murphy carded his second 71 for 142 and a share of 31st place while Ashbourne's John Dwyer improved by three shots but his 70 for 143 still left him back in 39th. And fellow countryman James Loughnane has a mountain to climb in the final two rounds after his second-round 75 gave him a three-over-par total of 147 and a position outside the top 60.

At Emporda there was not much cheer either for the Irish contingent as Birr's Richard Coughlan and Newry's Jim Carvill both fell back to find themselves outside the top 55 on two-over-par 144 and 147 respectively.