Jonathan Yates carded a one-over 73 in the second round but remains inside the top 25 and ties who will earn conditional cards at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament.

The Naas professional had an up and down day at Mission Inn Club and Resort’s El Campeon Course, making three bogeys and two birdies on the back nine to turn in one-over before coming home in level par.

Scores

The former West of Ireland champion birdied the first and second holes to move into the red but bogeys at the fourth and the par-three eighth left him tied 15th on one-under-par.

The winner of the 72-hole event will be fully exempt for 2021 while those finishing from second to sixth are exempt through the reshuffle, which will occur approximately halfway through the season.

The players ranked seventh through 25th (plus ties) will be awarded conditional membership.

Yates is seven strokes behind Costa Rica’s Luis Gagne, who added a 69 to his opening 67 to lead by one stroke on eight-under from Chris DiMarco.

Isidro Benítez is alone in third on six-under with another six players tied for fourth in the race for the remainder of the six full cards.

“I have a lot of golf left. I’m playing good and staying focused out there, which is key on this course,” Gagne said. “I just have to keep doing what I can do.”

DiMarco added: “This course is tough. There is no let-up. Holes 1 through 8 are challenging, and No. 1 right out of the gate can get you.”