Peter Lawrie facing tense final test at qualifying school

Former Spanish Open winner Peter Lawrie is this morning 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 today'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 yesterday, 28 players were heading towards their cards – which will be awarded to the top 25 and ties at the end of today’s play.

Lawrie went round yesterday 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 still very much in contention.

Finishing outside the top 110 in the Race to Dubai standings meant Lawrie lost his card and had to face the qualifying school – for the first time in 14 years – in a bid to regain it.

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

Five rounds

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

However Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin is now all but out of contention for a card after a disappointing two-over 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.