third best qualifier for the match play stage of the World One Armed Golf Championships in Scotland.

Talbot, who trailed leader Dave Parsons by 12 strokes after Monday's opening round, carded an 80 yesterday on the Burnside course at the Carnoustie Golf Club to finish tied for second on 171 with Brian Crumbie of Scotland.

Parsons finished with a two-round score of 160 to emerge as the top seed.

"Today I was more relaxed,'' said Talbot of his improved second round.

He will join 15 others in the match play championship flight and was expected to find out late last night who his first round opponent would be as he goes in search of his third title, having won in England in 1988 and Ireland in 1991.

"If I continue to play like this it will be good enough,'' said a confident Talbot. "My chances are good -- as good as anybody else. I will be looked at as one of the favourites.'' By the halfway stage of yesterday's round Talbot knew he had qualified for the championship round, and said he was able to take some chances on the back nine which resulted in three double bogeys which eventually denied him first place.

"My round should have been a lot lower, but I took a lot of chances that I should not have taken,'' he said.

"I was only three-over (par) after the first nine and knew I had already qualified. I was being aggressive, playing a few shots and hitting the ball good. I missed a lot of birdies.'' Talbot said the way he approaches match play will depend on the circumstances.

"Match play will be a lot different -- sometimes I'll play safe and sometimes aggressive.

"Whatever it calls for, that's how I will play. My chances are good. If I hit the ball as I hit it today I'm not going to be easy to beat.'' Mike O'Grady of Ireland also shot an 80 yesterday while defending champion Mike Benning of the United States and another favourite, Nick Chantness of England, both finished with two round scores of 181.

Scores were higher on the championship course, where the British Open used to be held, with the lowest being an 88.