Keith Nolan had a nightmare score yesterday, shooting a six over par 78 in yesterday's first round of the Buick Invitational at the Torrey Pines golf course, just north of San Diego. His fellow Irishman Richard Coughlan returned a less uncomfortable 73.

It could not have been a worse start for Nolan who dropped four shots in his first four holes. He made a bogey five at the first, where he three putted; he missed the fairway and the green at the next and at the par four fourth, he was 60 yards short of the flag in two shots. He pitched to 15 feet only to three-putt once again.

Reaching the turn in 40, he dropped two more shots on the way back to the clubhouse, his 38 giving him the discouraging total.

" I just played terrible," said a bitterly disappointed and downhearted Nolan. "I have no excuses as I spent the whole day practising yesterday, felt good but played badly."

Coughlan, like his compatriot was playing on the more difficult South course, so with the North course to come tomorrow, where all the first-round low scores were made yesterday, Coughlan still has a chance of making the cut.

Coughlan, starting on the 10th tee, birdied his fourth hole, the 13th, but then dropped shots at the par four 15th and the par five 18th to turn in one-over-par 37.

The leader on 10-under 62 was PGA champion Davis Love, one shot ahead of a group of four players which included former PGA champion Bob Tway and veteran Fuzzy Zoeller.