Norfolk's Andrew Marshall recorded another solid round yesterday to finish just three shots off the lead after the second round of the Mallorca Classic yesterday.

Norfolk's Andrew Marshall recorded another solid round yesterday to finish just three shots off the lead after the second round of the Mallorca Classic yesterday.

The Dereham professional posted his second consecutive level par 70 and will now be eyeing a top 10 finish in the penultimate European Tour event of the season.

Starting on the 10th tee, Marshall dropped only three shots all day, with three birdies keeping the pressure on joint halfway leaders Niclas Fasth and Gary Murphy, who both finished with a three under par total of 137.

He bogeyed his final hole to slip down into a tie for fifth place - but will still be well satisfied with his afternoon's work.

Marshall, currently 77th in the Order of Merit, needs a high finish this week to stand a chance of playing in next week's Volvo Masters at Valderamma, where a huge prize fund will be on offer.

In stark contrast, Padraig Harrington failed to close the gap to Paul Casey at the top of the Order of Merit after missing the cut. Harrington added a second round 74 to his opening 77 for an 11 over par total of 151 at Pula Golf Club, missing the halfway cut by three shots.

The 35-year-old trails Casey by £147,900 in the money list and added Mallorca to his schedule at the last minute following victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month.

Back-to-back wins would have taken Harrington top of the standings but he will travel to Valderrama next week for the season-ending Volvo Masters in need of a top-three finish to have any chance of overhauling Ryder Cup team-mate Casey.

“I'll just have to have a good week but it's hard to go into any tournament trying to win it,” admitted Harrington, who never recovered from a double bogey six at the first today.

“The option is still there, I still have a chance but it's hard to win a tournament 'on demand'.

“I'm happy enough with my game and I'm not going to read too much into it. Three rounds ago I was playing great golf so I'm not going to read too much into two rounds where I played badly. My wife and child are already in Malaga so I'll head there now and have a few days rest.”

Sweden's Robert Karlsson can also still win the Order of Merit despite being more than £300,000 behind Casey, and he lies five off the lead.