Ireland's Richard Coughlan is leading by one stroke at the halfway point in the second stage of the USPGA Tour School. With 23 to qualify from a field of 95, it means that the Walker Cup player from Birr remains in line for exempt status next year on both sides of the Atlantic.
At the same stage of the European test last month, Coughlan qualified comfortably at Spain's Emporada course. So, he will join David Higgins and Francis Howley in the final stage of the European School at the San Roque and Guadalmina courses in Spain next week.
"Given my experience of college life over here, I suppose I'd have a bit of a preference for the American scene," said Coughlan yesterday. "But my main objective is to give myself the option of choosing between the two tours."
He qualified comfortably in the first stage of the US Tour School last month by carding rounds of 68, 68, 73 and 68 in Savannah, Georgia. And Coughlan swept into an early, two-stroke lead in the second stage in Florence, South Carolina, when he shot a course record 64 on Tuesday.
With an eagle, seven birdies and a lone bogey, a measure of his consistency was a figure of nine-under-par for the last 11 holes. He then followed that performance with a 70 yesterday for a 10-under-par half-way score of 134.
If Coughlan qualifies for the final stage of the US School, it will mean travelling back from Spain to resume American action in Orlando early next month.
