Callum Macaulay took another major step towards a place in this week's European Tour qualifying school final by moving into second place during the third round of the stage- two shoot-out at El Valle in Spain yesterday.
The former Scottish Amateur champion, who played on the main circuit in 2009 and was runner-up in that year's Madeira Islands Open, fired a six-under-par 65 for an 11-under aggregate of 202.
Macaulay, who packed seven birdies into a purposeful round, heads into the closing day five shots behind the Swedish leader, Joakim Lagergren, with around 20 players progressing to the final stage.
Alan McLean, the Clydebank exile who is now based in Canada, also kept on course his hopes of a return to the top table with an eight-birdie 64 which propelled him into third place, on 204.
Lundin amateur James White, who was sitting in the upper echelons after an opening 65, now finds himself outside the qualifying zone after a crippling 77 dropped him down the field with a 214.
At Las Colinas, Elliot Saltman, who lost his place on the European Tour this season, tucked himself into seventh with a four-under 67 for a seven-under 206.
The Scot finished six strokes behind the Dutch leader, Tim Sluiter, who hit a 66 for 200.
Shaun McAllister is struggling to make the grade on 213 while Chris Kelly (216), Kris Nicol (220) and Mark Kerr (221) are all toiling in the lower reaches.
Scott Henry, who already has a Challenge Tour card for next season, shot a five-under 67 at Costa Ballena to jump up into 14th with a six-under 210.
Jack Doherty is clinging on to a top-20 spot after a 71 for 211, while Graham Fox gave his bid renewed vigour with a 67 for 213.
Andrew McArthur, a former Challenge Tour winner, and Raymond Russell, who has the fall- back of a medical exemption for the tour next year, both look like missing out after finishing on 215 and 217 respectively.
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