No pain in Spain for Willett

Danny Willett, the former world amateur number one, stayed on course to complete another successful spell on Spanish soil after moving into the top 10 during the second round of the European Tour's qualifying school final at PGA Catalunya in Girona.

The 21-year-old Yorkshire rookie, a former Walker Cup player and English amateur champion, fired a four-under 67 on the Red Course for a six-under aggregate of 137 to sit in a share of sixth spot, five shots behind front-runner Oskar Henningsson of Sweden.

Willett's fondness for Spain extends back to 2007 when he won the Spanish amateur title. He then finished 19th in the European Tour's Andalucian Open and 10th in the Spanish Open earlier this season, both as an amateur, and is now aiming to seal a full-time place on the main circuit at the first time of asking.

Willett - who won stage one of the Q-school process in Germany back in September - said: 'Spain has been very good to me over the last year or so.

'I have good memories here and hopefully I can add to those this week.

'I was prepared for the tour school, although I feel the final is less stressful than stage two. If I didn't get through that last weekend I would have struggled for starts.

'At the very least I have a Challenge Tour card but I'm aiming higher than that.'

Henningsson continued his fine early form with a second 66 for a three-shot lead over newly-turned pro Federico Colombo of Italy and South Africa's Branden Grace.

Iain Pyman, the former Amateur champion, put the pain of a back injury behind him to move into a share of sixth after a 67, as did Sweden's Andreas Hogberg, who reeled off eight birdies in a 63.

Former Ryder Cup player Joakim Haeggman hit a 67 to join that group while Bristol rookie Chris Wood, fifth in July's Open Championship as an amateur, carved out a 66 to jump into a tie for 17th on 138.

Andrew Butterfield posted a two-under 70 for a level-par 143 but amid the tension of the battle for tour cards the Englishman was still one of the happiest men in the event after wife Jo gave birth to a girl on the eve of his second round.

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and Jonathan Caldwell are the best placed Irishman on six-under-par. The Republic's Michael McGeady lies on five-under-par and Simon Thornton finished the round on two-under-par.