Yorkshire golf: Nigel Sweet rides high in hunt for European Senior Tour card

Leeds Golf Centre's Sweet, who opted to pursue a professional career after 38 years as an amateur, had five birdies in his last seven holes on day two at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta course in the European Senior Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.

His closing burst included birdies at all of the final four holes and left him two under for the event at the halfway stage.

Sweet had stood at two over for his round after a birdie at the third and bogeys at holes five, 10 and 11.

But his fantastic finishing flourish means he is just a stroke off being tied for fifth place.

The top five will earn Senior Tour cards on Thursday, with a play-off for the fifth and final card being played if necessary. Before that a cut after Wednesday's third round will reduce the field, with anyone not within eight shots of fifth place missing out.

Magnus P Atlevi is halfway along the road to redemption as he leads after two rounds at Vale da Pinta.

The Swede, whose double bogey at the final hole cost him a Senior Tour card 12 months ago, fired a bogey-free five-under-par round of 66 to open up a three shot advantage on the rest of the field at eight under par.

Atlevi was the youngest player in history to earn a card at European Tour Qualifying School as a 17-year-old in 1982.

First-round leader, American Chris Hunsucker, recovered from making five bogeys in his outward nine to shoot 72 and sits in fourth spot on four under par.