Chris Wood made waves in the summer when, as an amateur, he finished fifth in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Now he is on the brink of earning his European Tour card for 2009, only four months after joining the paid ranks.

After five rounds at the final stage of the European Tour's Qualifying School in Girona, north of Barcelona, the 20-year-old Bristolian was 11 under par, joint sixth with four others, including Andrew Coltart and Joakim Haeggman, the former Europe Ryder Cup players. The leading 30 players by the end of the sixth round today will earn their cards for next season.

“I played in eight events and that made me realise that I don't want to play anywhere other than the main tour,” Wood said after a 69 over the Stadium Course at the magnificent PGA Golf de Catalunya club. “I don't want to play on the Challenge Tour because [in terms of atmosphere] that would be like playing top-level amateur events. I've tasted the highs and I want more of them.”

Barring calamity, Danny Willett, another young Englishman, will secure his playing privileges for 2009. At 21, the Yorkshireman has an abundance of confidence and his sights set high. The former Walker Cup player would have been disappointed with his 74 yesterday, but, on 14 under par, he is safely placed in third, four strokes behind Oskar Henningsson, of Sweden, and two behind Carlos Del Moral, of Spain.

Coltart, meanwhile, is putting all his experience to good use in his attempt to win back the card he lost after 16 years on tour at the end of 2007. The 38-year-old Scot admits that he lost his enthusiasm for the game midway through 2008 - and stopped asking for sponsors' invitations to events - but after spending time working as a commentator for BBC radio at the Open Championship and the Ryder Cup, as well as working as a television analyst for Setanta, he has rediscovered his zest for the game.

“When you are playing full-time, you never get the chance to watch other players,” Coltart said after a round of 69 that began with two bogeys and included three birdies and an eagle. “You think you are the only one making mistakes and then you see that even the best players are doing it. My commentary work has certainly helped me to realise that.”

Six players are on five under par and tied for the all-important 30th place.