Q-School: McCarroll steps on the gas as other Irish hit reverse

Brendan McCarroll. Picture © Agathe Séron / Alps Tour

Brendan McCarroll made a big move with a superb 68 but the rest of the Irish contingent failed to break par in the second round of the European Tour Qualifying School Section C tests in Portugal and France.

The Narin & Portnoo professional made six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under-par effort at Ribagolfe near Lisbon, moving up 18 places to tied ninth on five-under-par.

The top 21 and both venues progress to November's Second Stage at four Spanish venues and McCarroll is one stroke inside the mark, seven strokes behind leader  Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez of Spain.

• Scoring Ribagolfe
• Scoring Golf d’Hardelot

Tramore amateur Robin Dawson made two birdies and three bogeys as he added a 73 to his opening 68 to slip one stroke outside the top 21 and ties on three-under.

Castleknock's David Carey was one-under for the day and five-under for the event with three holes to play at the same venue but bogeyed the seventh and eighth and double-bogeyed the ninth for a three-over 75 that leaves him three shots outside the number in a share of 34th on one-under.

The was no joy for the other Irish in action at Golf d'Hardelot in northern France where Limerick men Cian McNamara and Tim Rice also slipped back.

Monkstown professional McNamara made an early double-bogey five at the seventh and added three birdies and five bogeys to sign for a four-over 75 that saw him slip 36 places to tied 48th.

The former South of Ireland and Junior Open champion is five strokes outside the top 21 and ties on one-over-par.

As for Rice, the reigning Irish Professional champion had a turbulent round, closing with a triple bogey seven at this final hole, the ninth for a one-over 72 that leaves him tied 64th on four-over.

Despite starting with a birdie at the 10th and racing to two under through 17 holes thanks to an eagle-birdie-birdie run from his 15th hole, his closing triple was a killer blow