The runners and riders are on the final stretch at the European Tour’s Qualifying School and the Scottish trio of David Law, Peter Whiteford and Paul Shield still have a chance of earning one of the 25 cards on offer for the 2016 Race to Dubai.
There was disappointment, though, for Scott Henry, Ross Kellett, Jack Doherty and Bradley Neil as they all failed to make the 72-hole cut at PGA Catalunya in north east Spain.
Whiteford, who lost his place on the main tour at the end of the 2014 campaign, posted a two-under 68 on the Tour Course for a five-under 279 to finish in a share of 34th, just a shot outside the current card-winning places and nine behind joint leaders Daniel Gavins, Chris Hanson and Jean Hugo.
He was joined on that mark by Aberdonian youngster Law, the former Scottish Amateur champion, who was left cursing a double-bogey six at the 17th as he signed for a level-par 72 on the Stadium Course.
Kirkhill man Shields, meanwhile, saw his promotion push hampered as he slipped off the pace with a damaging five-over 77. After three solid rounds, Shields dropped back with a two-under 282 but he has at least guaranteed himself a Challenge Tour ranking for next season by qualifying for the closing 36-holes.
The rest of the Scots in the field had dismal days. Henry, who narrowly failed to regain his main tour card through this year’s Challenge Tour rankings, bogeyed his final two holes and missed the cut with a 286.
Doherty had hauled himself above the cut mark with four holes to play on the Tour Course but he endured a wretched finish a leaked a shot on the 15th before racking up a calamitous triple-bogey eight on the last in a 70 for a 287.
“I had 215 yards to the front with my approach but pulled a 4-iron five yards left and the ball kicked into the hazard,” said the former Australian Amateur champion. “I then flew it straight over green and out of bounds.”
Doherty, who held a European Tour card for the 2014 season, finished on the same mark as Ross Kellett, who endured a frustrating day and limped in with a 77.
Blairgowrie rookie Neil, the former Amateur champion, will now have to make his mark on the third-tier of the professional game as his Q-School campaign petered out with a 70 for a four-over 288.
Johan Edfors, the 2006 Scottish Open champion, and the former Dunhill Links champion, Nick Dougherty, were among the early casualties as were English rookies Jimmy Mullen and Ashley Chesters, who both played starring roles for GB&I in September’s Walker Cup win over the USA.
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