Walker Cup player Richard Coughlan from Birr swept through to the PGA European Tour School in three weeks with a brilliant round of 65 at Emporda in Spain yesterday. Coughlan's six-under-par final round gave him a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under-par 203 and joint first place among the nine qualifiers with Englishman James Miller from Fulford.

Ulster's Cameron Clark, based at Hagley Golf Club, near Birmingham, took a leaf out of Coughlan's book by also shooting a 65 at Emporda. Cameron made it through in joint fifth place on seven-under 206.

Peter O'Brien from Killiney shot his best round of the week, a par 71, but a 13-over-par total of 226 left him way back in 47th place. Damian Mooney had a No Return after two 73s.

David Barton, from Stonebrige, in common with more than 50 other players, decided it was not worth the expense to change flights, etc to accommodate the rain-enforced extra day and, after rounds of 70 and 76, he went home as scheduled on Thursday.

There was no Irish good news stories at Pals, the other rain-affected Spanish venue which went into a fourth day's play. Eoghan O'Connell had really scuppered his chances with a second-round 77, and a par closing round of 73 for 221 left him six shots outside involvement in the play-off for the last of the nine qualifying spots at Pals.

Chris Moriarty from Northern Ireland finished on 225 after closing with a 74.