Howley, Higgins get by

Francis Howley and David Higgins held a double celebration party in France last night after both figured among the eight qualifiers in a starting field of well over 100 at St Cyprien in the PGA European Tour School Pre-Qualifying competition.

Howley finished with a pair of 68s to book his place in the Final Qualifying at San Roque and Guadallamina in southern Spain from November 20th-25th on 12under-par 207, one shot behind the leading qualifier at the French venue, Englishman John Bickerton.

Higgins sagged a little at the close to a 71, but 210 got him through with a couple of shots to spare. Irish non-qualifiers at St Cyprien included John McHenry, who took one shot too many even with a 68 for 213, Graham Spring (215), Gary Murphy (219), Peter Lawrie (222), amateur Gary O'Flaherty (231) and Gary A Murphy (232). There were no Irish qualifiers at Spain's Peralada and Panoramica.

Jack Nicklaus' son Gary led the nine through at Peralada with an 11-under-par 205. Irish non-qualifiers at that venue included: Paul Russell (214), Leslie Walker (222), John Kelly (223), Niall Handley (226) and Hugh O'Neill (232).

At Panoramica, Argentinian Roberto Coceres was the leading qualifier with a nine-under-par 216. Wayne Fergal O'Callaghan totalled 220, seven shots too many to get into even the play-off for the last of the nine places.

James Bourke retired after opening rounds of 83 and 79 left him well out of contention. The rain-affected Spanish venues, Emporda and Pals, will stretch into a fourth day to get the third and last round played. Walker Cup player Richard Coughlan from Birr needs an even lower score - he has shot two 69s so far - to get into the leading nine who will progress from Emporda.

He is lying in joint 12th place on four-under-par 138. At the same venue, Ulster's Cameron Clark is in 22nd place on 141. David Barton from Stonebridge looks a lost cause on 146, and Peter O'Brien is also out of it at this venue after an 83 for 155.

At Pals, Eoghan O'Connell blew his qualifying chances, apparently, with a 77 for two-over-par 148. Patrick Geraghty is back on 153 after a 77 and Steven Moodie from Northern Ireland retired without returning a score.