David Higgins is the leading Irishman in 42nd place in the European Tour qualifying school in Spain yesterday after shooting a one-under-par 71 for a second-round total of 143. The leading 35 players in the 168-strong field earn cards for next year's circuit and just the top 75 survive the cut after two more rounds.

Ireland's 1995 Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton needs a big recovery to make it third time lucky at the school. A second successive 74 left Walton in 108th spot. The former English and French Open champion went out of bounds at Sotogrande's long 12th for a seven, and after coming back with two birdies in the next three holes had another double bogey at the 388-yard 16th.

Paddy Gribben and Gary Murphy also face uphill battles after they both shot 74s yesterday for totals of 146 and 148, respectively.

Magnus Persson, who has failed on his last nine visits, is one ahead of Leicester's Matthew Cort, who after a superb first round 65 managed only a 73.

Meanwhile, Michael Hoey, of Shandon Park, who became the first Irish player in 16 years to win the British Amateur championship this season, is one of three golfers to be awarded the top amount of £5,000 in the annual grant allocation by the Irish Sports Council.

Hoey, who was also a member of the British and Irish Walker Cup winning team, intends to turn professional next April, after competing in the US Masters at Augusta National. The other two recipients of the top financial award were Stephen Browne, of Hermitage and Graeme McDowell, of the Rathmore club in Portrush, who was unbeaten in foursomes in the Walker Cup in Sea Island, Georgia. A total of £55,000 was awarded to 32 players.