JOHN McHENRY remains the best of Ireland's six contenders but Damian McGrane took pride of place in the windswept second round of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School in Spain yesterday.
McHenry had a competent 73 at Sotogrande for a one over par 145 that put him joint 30th after 36 holes, eight behind the joint leaders Brian Davis of England, and Dane Ben Tinning. But Headfort assistant McGrane clipped six shots off his first round offering, and with a 71 on the same course or a four over par 148 ensured he would be in the leading half of the field of 183 who will return to Sotogrande today.
Only fourth placed David Tapping who sank a 115 yards bunker shot at the fifth for an eagle two and a 69, produced a better score than McGrane in the testing conditions which often had golf balls oscillating on the most elevated greens.
But Kent-based Dubliner John Murray with a 73 at more difficult San Rogue for 148 and Belfast's Jim Carvill with 72 for 149 also clawed their way back into the hunt for a Tour card.
The only ones to miss out were Ulster-born Cameron Clark (78-151) and Milltown's Francis Howley who had a nightmare 84 at San Rogue, 10 shots worse than his first round, to tumble to 174th place. It will take something in the 60s on the same course today to get him back into the reckoning.
McGrane, who is making his first attempt at the School, recovered well from early three putts on the third and sixth greens to get home in 33, with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 18th. He wedged four feet from the flag for the first, then was almost home with a seven-iron at the downwind 14th for a chip and putt birdie four, and finally holed from 15 feet at the last.
"I was too aggressive in the first round," he said, "but I played consistently today and hit a lot of greens."