THREE SCOTS IN QUALIFYING ZONE

 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Only Helensburgh's Gary Orr, George Murray from Anstruther and Paisley's Alistair Forsyth of the nine Scots competing at the European Tour Final Qualifying School are within the qualifying zone of the leading 25 players after two rounds of the six-day marathon test at PGA Catalunya, Gerona near Barcelona in North-east Spain. 
The top 70 and ties from a starting field of 156 after four rounds will go on to the final 36 holes that will decide the leading 25 who will earn playing rights on Europe's "Big League" next year. 
Orr, 45, pictured above, took over as the leading Scot in a share of second place behind Argentinian Tano Goya - Carly Booth's boyfriend and sometimes caddie - with a three-under-par 69 over the longer and tougher Stadium Course for a 36-hole tally of six-under-par 136 - one shot behind Goya (64-71). 
Murray had two double bogeys but played the other holes very well indeed to salvage a one-under 71  on the same course to be sharing seventh place on 137. Forsyth took advantage of the easier conditions - Saturday's wind blew itself out - to return a five-under 65 over the shorter Tour course to be sharing 20th place on 140.

There are 32 players on 140 and better and they will all be happy with their start to the most nerve-racking golf test of the year because the contestants are playing not just for the week or even the year but their future as tour pros is on the line.

Jamie McLeary (141) and Callum Macaulay (142) are just over the limit mark at the moment. McLeary had a second-round 72 and Macaulay a 71 for the second day in a row.

The four other Scots have it all to do. Their first target must be to make the cut at the end of the fourth round.

Scott Drummond must have given himself hope that he can climb up the field of 156 with a 68 for 144, one shot more than Raymond Russell who had a 72.

But the prospects are not good for Andrew McArthur (147) and Wallace Booth (148). McArthur, like Drummond, must have given his self-confidence a boost with a 67 but an opening 80 left him with so much ground to make up.

Booth improved by six shots with a 71 but probably needs two sub-70 scores just to survive the first cut.

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