Dorset double act Gary Emerson and Lee James made steady starts to the marathon European Tour Qualifying School race in Spain on Thursday.

Emerson and James, who are paired together for the first two days, carded level-par rounds of 72 on the New Course at San Roque for a share of 59th place.

But it could have been even better for both players had they not chalked up bogey fives on the final green.

"It's a tough closing hole with water on the right and a hollow on the left that Gary and I both found and failed to get up and down in two," explained James.

"I didn't create too many chances for birdies, but it was a steady start to a very long competition, so I'm satisfied," he added.

Emerson and James were due to tee off their second rounds on the Old Course at 9.10am local time on Friday.

James secured his place in the final after finishing joint fifth in the second qualifying stage at Costa Ballena last week.

The 1994 British Amateur champion carded rounds of 69, 67, 72 and 70 for a 10-under-par total - seven behind the winner.

A total of 74 players progressed to San Roque from the four second-stage qualifying tournaments.

But fellow Dorset pro Shaun Webster, who also played at Ballena, failed to make the grade after finishing on five over par.

Emerson, meanwhile, was one of the 82 players exempt from qualifying as an order of merit winner within the last 10 years. He won the Russian Open in 2004.

A field of 156 players will be attempting to win one of just 30 cards (and ties) up for grabs next Tuesday after their arduous six-round examination.

Fellow Englishman Robert Coles is the early pace-setter after a first-round 66 on the New Course.