Simon Thornton leads the 18-strong Irish challenge in stage two of the European Tour qualifying school after carding a second round 70 Arcos Garden, one of four courses in the south of Spain hosting the event.

On seven-under-par, Thornton has Dennis Kupper of Germany for company in second place as both trail Spaniard Santiago Luna by two shots.

The 45-year-old Luna, a veteran of over 500 European Tour events and a winner of the circuit's Madeira Islands Open back in 1995, carded a three-under 69 for a nine-under aggregate of 135.

Mark Campbell moved to one under with a 71. The Stackstown golfer is one ahead of South County's Barrie Trainor who dropped a shot and signed for a 73.

Mark Murphy plummeted to seven-over-par thanks to a 78.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw is five off the pace at Costa Ballena after he moved to five-under-par with a 69. Spanish teenager Jordi Garcia Pinto of Spain held on to top spot despite following up his dazzling first round 10-under 62 with a more modest 72.

Alan Murray and John Kelly are both on two over, the former having shot a 70 as the latter dropped back down the standings with a 75.

Birr's failed to improve on a first round 75 and fell further adrift to eight over with a 77.

Fog delayed play at Montenmedio but Englishman Guy Woodman emerged as the leader with a 68 for nine under and a one-stroke advantage over Spain's Manuel Quiros.

Douglas' Peter O'Keeffe is six off the lead after a 71 left him in a tie for eighth. Richard Kilpatrick is a shot behind him thanks to a second 71 but Jonathan Caldwell dropped to one-over-par with a 74.

Mark Staunton went some way to making amends for Wednesday's 81 with a 73 but is still 10-over-par, seven ahead of Daniel Sugrue who carded an 83 after opening with a 78.

David Higgins' 69 left him two under and eight behind Frenchman Julien Guerrier at Sherry Golf Jerez.

Esker Hills amateur Shane Lowry improved on his opening 75 with a 70 and is one-over-par, a stroke ahead of Colm Moriarty who shot the same score after a 76 on Wednesday.

Noel Fox also made a vast improvement with a 71 after opening with a 79, but at five over is way down the field in a tie for 60th.

Seventy-eight places in next week's final stage of qualifying are available to the 309 golfers taking part.