NICK Dougherty makes the final push today (Monday) to becoming one of the youngest players ever to hold a European Tour card.

Only a few weeks after celebrating his 19th birthday, the Chorley-based youngster moved into eighth position at the final qualifying school in Spain.

Having fired a potentially disastrous 76 at the San Rogue course earlier in the week, Dougherty returned to banish his demons with a superb five-under-par 67 that followed rounds of 66 and 71.

The Shaw Hill attached former Walker Cup star is lying second best Englishman behind Russell Claydon and although his five round aggregate of 11-under par is six adrift of leader David Park that does not concern him.

A top 35 finish will guarantee him full status on next season's Tour.

But even if he finishes outside the zone, he is guaranteed plenty of starts via sponsor invitations.

Dougherty, whose birdies on the last two holes could prove priceless in the final analysis, said: ''It was all about giving myself room for a bit of safety.

''As long as the guys behind me don't keep going forward then I should be in contention.''

Sale-based Iain Pyman slipped down the leaderboard to 27th after a 75.