There were mixed fortunes for the two Bristol golfers in the second round of the European Tour Q School First Stage tournament at Oxfordshire GC yesterday.

Seventeen-year-old Adam Carson, of Long Ashton, fell down the field with a four-over-par 76, but Paul Reed, of Bristol & Clifton, shot a solid 72.

Both players, however, now need under par rounds on day three to progress.

Reed reached two-under-par for his round yesterday after just four holes and was frustrated not to hang on to that score.

"I like the course because it rewards quality shots, but I lost concentration a couple of times and got punished for it," he said.

He was glad that his day one putting woes were behind him. "I was three-putting too often in the first round and was definitely more familiar with the speed of the greens the second time around. My dropped shots were mostly to do with poor drives."

The story for Carson was the complete opposite.

"My long game was fine," he said, "but I had 35 putts after missing a couple of short ones. That side of my game really let me down."

After reaching the turn at level par, Carson, who is playing in this pro event as an amateur, had an untidy back 9 including a double bogey when he drove into water at the treacherous par 3 5th hole. "I now know that I need to go under par for day three, but I feel that I'm hitting the ball well which is good," he said.

Both players are at three-over-par tied 59th and need under-par third rounds to guarantee qualifying for day four to play for one of approximately 30 places available for Second Stage of Q School in November.

The tournament leader is American Ryan Blaum on 12-under-par.