Norfolk golfer Will Harrold's dream of playing on the European Tour is hanging by a thread at the halfway stage of the second qualifying event.

The Sheringham player headed to the El Valle Golf Resort in Spain in excellent heart after winning a big tournament on the MENA Tour in the Middle East and pocketing nearly �12,000 in the process.

But he failed to take that sort of form out on to the course at Tour School, with a hugely disappointing opening round of 78 leaving him near the rear of the field.

There was a distinct improvement yesterday as Harrold posted a level par second round of 71, but he still has a mountain to climb if he is to make it to the final stage of the competition at the PGA Catalunya Resort from November 24-29.

This week's qualifying competition is being played at four Spanish courses – and only the top 17 at each are guaranteed a place in the big event later this month. Harrold currently lies in a tie for 63rd position at El Valle on seven over – and with a sub par finish almost certain to be required to make further progress he now needs two rounds well below 70 to stand any chance of making it.

Meanwhile Ian Ellis maintained his impressive recent form when he won the latest Norfolk Golfers' Alliance meeting at Royal Cromer by four shots.

The start of the competition, which attracted a full field of 120 players, was delayed by half an hour as the course had taken a lot of rain overnight.

However the greenkeepers worked hard to get the course playable, with all of the greens in play, and there were some good scores recorded.

Costessey Park's Ellis led the way with the day's only sub-70 round of 68 which earned him a comfortable victory.

Sharing second place on 72 were two of his regular challengers, Mike Jubb of Sheringham and Michael Few of Weston Park.

Ellis also took the team prize with former Norfolk cricket captain David Thomas (Eaton), who has also being playing well of late.

Their score of 45 points left them one ahead of Eaton pair Mark Taylor and Roger Finney.

Caroline Grady (Dunston Hall) and Randy Reynolds (Fakenham) were tied third on 43 points with John Watson and Bernie Vaughan (Costessey Park) while Simon Fuller and Joe Thwaites of Royal Cromer were fifth on 42.