STEVE Richardson outshone his old Ryder Cup counterparts Paul Broadhurst and Philip Walton on the second day of the European Tour School on Spain's Costa del Sol.

The day dawned cold and breezy, increasing the difficulty factor at the two qualifying courses at San Roque and Sotogrande.

And players were generally posting higher scores.

Richardson, from Lee-on-Solent, who had opened up with a two-under-par 70, stayed on those figures as he posted a level par 72 at Sotogrande.

At one stage he slipped back to one under, but clawed a shot back on the finishing stretch for a 36-hole score of 142 which left him in a tie for 27th place.

But two other ex-Ryder Cup men were not enjoying it. Broadhurst, back at Tour School for the first time since turning professional in 1988, started the day at three under but slipped back to level par with a 75.

He blamed poor iron play for a day of trouble and toil which left him in a tie for 47th place, although, with 75 making the fourth round cut on Saturday night, that was no great cause for concern.

But Irishman Walton was staring in the face of a third successive Tour School failure as he slipped to 108th place at four over par.

He has managed two rounds of 74 so far but remained positive, saying: "I've still got a couple of days to put it right."

Hampshire's other hope, Matt Blackey, was among the players sharing 47th place with Broadhurst after two level-par rounds of 72 tucked neatly in the bag.

Blackey was taking his first competitive look at San Roque, considered to be the toughest of the two courses, and while many players, including one of England's brightest young prospects Nick Dougherty, were struggling in the breezy conditions, the man from Hayling Island played another controlled round of golf.

Liverpool teenager Dougherty, a protege of Nick Faldo, plunged from ninth to 63rd after shooting a second round 76.

Swede Magnus Persson, making his ninth visit to Tour School, was leading the field with a seven under par 137. One behind was west region hope Andrew Sherbourne but Dorset's Shaun Webster, who had enjoyed top-three status after a first round 68, followed up with a 74 to fall back into the group at two under which included Richardson.

For two other Dorset players, Lee James and Lee Thompson, only scores in the 60s will do over the next couple of days. James is four over and Thompson six over after a second round 78.