Sparkling 65 takes Gribben through

Paddy Gribben produced the round of his life - improving by 13 shots on his third round effort - at Pals in Spain yesterday to ensure his presence at next month's European Tour school final qualifying.

Indeed, Pals proved to be an extremely happy hunting ground for the Irish contingent: Damian McGrane led the qualifying at the venue and was joined in successfully making it through to the tour school in Sotogrande and San Roque next month by Gribben, Sean Quinlivan and Damien Mooney.

Elsewhere, it was a largely frustrating exercise for Ireland's aspiring tour professionals. Only Jim Carvill emerged from the qualifying at Peralada where Richard Coughlan, Peter Lawrie and Francis Howley all failed in their respective bids, while Eamonn Brady failed to make it through at Emporda.

While 54-holes leader McGrane added a final round 69 for 15-under-par 273 to head the qualifying at Pals, the most improbable comeback was performed by Gribben. In Thursday's third round, Gribben, hampered by strong winds, crashed to a 78 which plunged him down the field into a tie for 40th place.

With only the top 30 players from each of the three venues progressing to the final school, Gribben's response was to produce a final round 65 which catapulted him through the field to tied-16th alongside Mooney on four-under-par 284. And Quinlivan, again showing solid form, finished his campaign with a 68 for eight-under-par 280 to comfortably book his ticket with a share of seventh place.

Also at Pals, former tour player Raymond Burns, who closed with a 75 for 291 and tied-41st, and Leslie Walker, who had 73 for 294 and tied-57th place, failed to make it.

Carvill booked his place at Peralada, but had to sweat it out after finishing with a final round 74 for 283 which brought him from 10th place overnight all the way back to tied-23rd along with six other players. Coughlan had a final round 71 for 288 to finish in tied-54th but Lawrie (76 for 289, tied-62nd) and Howley (78 for 293, tied-73rd) never looked like securing their tickets to tour school.

Former Irish amateur international Brady, meanwhile, had a final round 70 for 281 which meant he slipped from tied-26th position overnight back to tied-34th.