Irish cohort still in with a shout for Tour card in Catalunya

Former Open de Espana winner Peter Lawrie is preparing himself for his most significant round of the year as he attempts to regain his European Tour card.

Dublin-born Lawrie, 40, goes into tomorrow’s sixth and final round of the gruelling final qualifying school at Catalunya five-under par which, as things stand, would mean him missing out on his card by just a single shot, with six-under par the magic score.

After the end of play today, 28 players were heading towards their cards - which will be awarded to the top 25 and ties at the end of tomorrow’s play.

Lawrie went round in a level-par 72 on the Stadium Course for a 90-hole aggregate 351.

He was one-under after two birdies and a bogey on his outward half, but then collected two birdies and three bogeys on his back nine - including one on the final hole - meaning he sits just outside the card placings although is still very much in contention.

Finishing outside the top 110 in the Race to Dubai Standings meant Lawrie lost his card and has been forced to go through the qualifying school in a bid to regain it for the first time in 14 years.

Meanwhile fellow Irish pair Kevin Phelan and Simon Thornton aren't out of the running either, with both of them four-under par.

Thornton also went round in a level par 72, although Phelan will have been disappointed with his two-over par round of 74 which included two birdies and four bogeys.

The duo are tied for 38th with respective aggregate scores of 358 after five rounds, although good rounds by both tomorrow would put them right back in the mix.

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin is now all but out of contention for a card after a 74 left him on an overall two-over par 356 - eight shots off a card place as things stand.

Italian Renato Paratore currently leads the field with a 17-under par aggregate score of 339.