Coughlan keeps on track

It's considered one of the toughest chores in professional golf, the quest to win a tour card. And Richie Coughlan, who beat the system twice two years ago when claiming tickets to play in both Europe and the United States, but no longer in possession of those cards, has rolled up his sleeves in an attempt to regain his European Tour playing rights.

Yesterday, in the second round of the Stage I qualifying at Five Lakes in Essex, one of five courses in use at this stage of the process, Coughlan fired a second round 69 for seven-under-par 137 to lie in tied-fourth place at the halfway point. The Luttrellstown Castle-attached touring professional is two shots adrift of England's Simon Burnell, a former winner on the Challenge Tour, who brought his birdie haul for two days to 13 when adding a 68 in dark, damp conditions yesterday.

Coughlan, though, is well placed to book his place in the Pre-Qualifying II which will be staged at Pals, Emporada and Peralada on October 26th-29th. The top 27 players and ties from Chart Hills will progress to the next phase of qualifying. Under a new format to previous years, all players within eight shots of the final qualifying position at each course will survive to compete in tomorrow's fourth and final round.

While Coughlan is the best placed Irishman in the qualifying scramble, there was also a brave effort from Jim Carvill at Wynyard. Carvill fired a second round 71 for 140 which put him into tied-16th position where the pace is being set by two Englishmen Simon Lilley and Mark Pullan and Sweden's Peter Hansson. Interestingly, one shot adrift of the pacemakers at this course are two members of the triumphant Walker Cup team Graham Rankin and Lorne Kelly.

Unfortunately, the other member of that Walker Cup team competing in PQI hasn't fared as well. Paddy Gribben, playing at Woodbury Park in Exeter, slumped to a second round 77 for 146 which dropped him down to tied-52nd at the midway stage. The largest contingent of Irish players is in action at Carden Park where England's Michael Hollingworth is the halfway leader. He shot a 69 yesterday to be two shots clear of the pack.

John Langan is the best placed Irishman at Carden Park, adding a second round 71 yesterday to jump to 18th place while James Loughnane is a shot, and a place, further back but still on course to qualify. Irish Amateur strokeplay champion Gary Cullen recovered from a disastrous opening round to shoot a 70 for 149 which lifted him to tied-34th alongside Raymon Burns and Leslie Walker and onto the fringes of qualification.