FIVE SCOTS IN SPANISH Q ZONE - BUT CAN THEY STAY THERE WHEN THE HEAT IS ON

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com It's so far, so good for five of the 15 entrants - Jamie McLeary, Wallace Booth, Callum Macaulay, Steven O'Hara and Jack Doherty - who are within the top-17 qualifying zone with one round to play in the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 events at four Spanish venues. The Saltman brothers, Lloyd and Elliot, are not going to make it through to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya from November 22 to 29. Neither is Ross Kellett and, surprisingly after good first and second days, maybe not David Law either. The Aberdonian has given himself a mountain to climb by dropping to 37th at his venue. McLeary shot his best of the week - a five-under-par 67 (31-36) for 212  to surge up to a share of fifth place at El Saler, only two shots behind the joint leaders. Graham Fox had a 72 (34-38) for 220 and is in joint 29th place. He is only three shots behind those sharing 17th place so the Rowallan Castle man could still do it although he has not broken par at El Saler so far. Lloyd Saltman's 78 (40-38) for 229 leaves him in joint 64th place, a shot ahead of Ross Kellett who has a 72 (34-38) for 230. Craig Matheson has been nothing if not consistent. He has shot three 80s in a row for 240. Booth broke 70 for the second day in a row at Las Colinas, Alicante with a three-under 68 (206) for a share of sixth place, four shots off Tim Sluiter's pace. Scott Henderson has improved every day, but a 71 for 220 still  leaves him in joint 66th place. O'Hara, like Booth, had a second successive sub-70 score and he is sharing 10th place at Lumine, Tarragona. Steven shot a three-under 68 (32-36) for 207 and is a shot ahead of Doherty who birdied the second, third and fourth on his way to a 69 (35-34) for 208 and joint 13th place at this venue. Elliot Saltman is down among the dead men after a 73 for 222. At El Valle it was a great day for Callum Macaulay but a day of disaster for David Law. Macaulay had a 67 (34-33) for 208 to move up to a share of fifth place, only two shots behind leader Thomas Haylock. But Law fell out of the probable qualifying zone with a 76 (41-35), having run up a triple bogey 7 at the eighth. The Aberdonian has slumped to a share of 37th place with another past Scottish boys champion Michael Stewart who had a 70 (35-35). They are four shots behind those in joint 17th place so need something special to finish with to stay on in Spain. Neil Fenwick, after second successive 68 (35-33) for a share of 32nd place on 214 is slightly better placed than Law and Stewart but still has it all to do to qualify. Paul Cormack is out of it at El Valle after a 76 for 223. STAGE 2 SCOREBOARD Leading 17 at each venue after four rounds will qualify for Final Stage at PGA Catalunya EL SALER (Par 72) 210 Simon Thornton (Ire) 73 71 66, Jason Timmis (Eng) 72 70 68 SCOTS' SCORES 212 Jamie McLeary 72 73 67 (T5) 220 Graham Fox 73 75 72 (T29) 229 Lloyd Saltman 79 72 78 (T64) 230 Ross Kellett 81 77 72 (T66) 240 Craig Matheson 80 80 80 (last of 72) LAS COLINAS (Par 71) 202 Tim Sluiter (Ned) 67 70 65 SCOTS' SCORES 206 Wallace Booth 72 66 68 (T6) 220 Scott Henderson 76 73 71 (T66) EL VALLE (Par 71) 206 Thomas Haylock (Eng) 72 65 69 SCOTS' SCORES 208 Callum Macaulay 69 72 67 (T5) 214 Neil Fenwick 78 68 68 (T32) 215 David Law 70 69 76, Michael Stewart 76 69 70 (T37) 223 Paul Cormack 74 73 76 (T62) LUMINE (Par 71) 202 Martin Sell (Eng) 67 67 67 SCOTS' SCORES 207 Steven O'Hara 73 66 68 (T10) 208 Jack Doherty 70 69 69 (T13) 222 Elliot Saltman 76 73 73 (T73)