Amateur golf, Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghOctober 10, 2018Jonathan Yates, European Tour Qualifying School, David Carey, Conor O’Rourke, Peter Williamson

Yates leads Irish as O'Rourke, Carey and Williamson fight back at Q-School

Amateur golf, Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghOctober 10, 2018Jonathan Yates, European Tour Qualifying School, David Carey, Conor O’Rourke, Peter Williamson

Naas’ Jonathan Yates. Picture by Pat Cashman

Naas amateur Jonathan Yates added a 74 to his opening 69 but remained inside the qualifying places after the second round of the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section D qualifier at Bom Sucesso in Portugal.

The 25-year-old former West of Ireland champion mixed two birdies with four birdies to share 15th place on one-under, leaving him seven strokes off the lead but right on the number in the battle to make the top 19 and ties who will progress to next month’s Second Stage in Spain.

Fellow Naas player Conor O’Rourke shot a one-under 71 to climb 28 spots to tied 27th on one-over, two shots outside the mark with Castleknock’s David Carey four strokes further back after improving on his opening round by 14 strokes with a gutsy 68.

In the Section D Qualifier at Golf d’Hardelot in France, Peter Williamson recovered ground with a 72 but after opening with a 79 he’s tied 97th and needs two rounds in the sixties to progress.

Yates won't make a decision on his amateur status just yet but intends to wait and see how things go at the Qualifying School.

"I will see where I’m at and what’s the best path for me," he said before jetting out to Portugal.