Bad weather wiped out second-round play at two of the five venues for the PGA European Tour School Pre-Qualifier Two yesterday. The 54-hole events at Pals and Emporda, both near Girona in north-eastern Spain, have been extended by a day and are now scheduled to finish tomorrow.

American Gary Nicklaus, son of the Jack Nicklaus, took over the lead at Peralada, where the nine leading players at the end of third and final round will go forward to the final qualifying school at San Roque and Guadalamina in southern Spain from the 20th to the 25th of November.

Nicklaus slipped by three strokes compared with his opening effort of six-under-par 66, but a 69 for a nine-under-par 135 was good enough to leave him a shot ahead of Frenchman Bertrand Cornut.

Irishman Lesley Walker is in joint 12th at this venue after a 72 for 141 - one shot ahead of compatriot Paul Russell who also had a 72 yesterday.

Other Irish scores at Peralada were a 76 by John Kelly which dropped him to joint 41st place on 146; a 77 by Niall Handley for 150 and a 73 by Hugh O'Neill for 158.

Englishman Peter Sefton continued to lead at the Bernard Langer-designed par-72 Panoramica course. He had a 70 for eight-under-par 136.

The leading Irish player at this venue, Wayne Fergal O'Callaghan looks well out of contention for one of the nine qualifying spots. He is on 146 after a second successive 73.

Sean McDonagh (160) and James Bourke (162) are also pursuing a lost cause after rounds of 82 and 79 respectively in the second round.

David Higgins is faring best of all the Irishmen in action. He had a second-round 69 over the tough, par-73 St Cyprien, the only French venue being used. It is, on paper, the hardest of the five.

Higgins is handily placed to claim one of only eight places on offer at this course. He is lying joint second on seven-under-par 139, three shots behind leader John Bickerton from England.

Also at St Cyprien, John McHenry had a 73 for 145 and is lying joint 26th. Graham Spring is back in joint 39th place after a 72 for 147.