Ireland's Richard Coughlan and Keith Nolan achieved the remarkable distinction yesterday of qualifying for US PGA Tour Cards next season. Coughlan finished in a share of ninth place in the qualifying school at the Greenleaf Resort, Florida, where Nolan was tied 20th. Both players coped brilliantly with the pressure of the final round of this six-round test. Coughlan shot a three-under-par 69, on the west course for a total of 419 - 10 under par - while his compatriot, playing the same stretch, had a level-par 72 for 421 - eight under.

The quality of their play throughout can be gauged from the fact that their highest round was a 73 from Coughlan on the opening day. Otherwise, they shot par or better in extremely demanding circumstances.

The overall leader of the tour school was established tournament player Scott Verplank who led throughout to finish on 22 under par. Cards were awarded to the top 35 finishers and ties, which meant that the Irish pair got through comfortably. Coughlan (Birr) had rounds of 73, 66, 70, 70, 71 69 for 419, while Nolan (Bray) shot 71, 70, 68, 70, 70, 72. "The pressure was tremendous," said Coughlan afterwards. "Going into the round my arms and legs felt dreadfully tired, but I was determined to keep it going. When I got to two under par after five, I could relax a little. Obviously, Keith and I are absolutely thrilled."

Their performances highlight the benefit of competing in the US college system where the emphasis is on strokeplay in regular, 54-hole tournaments. Indeed, their success contrasts sharply with events at Quaker Ridge last August, when Coughlan's half-point was their only return from a disappointing Walker Cup.

Nolan, a 24-year-old graduate of East Tennessee, was third individual in the NCAA Championships last season when he also captured the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay title at Fota Island. And he was leading qualifier in the men's European Amateur Team Championship at Portmarnock.

Meanwhile, Coughlan's achievement is all the more remarkable for the fact that he earned a European Tour card two weeks ago in Spain, where he was 33rd of 43 qualifiers. The test was shortened to 72 holes because of horrendous weather and the 23-year-old Clemson graduate shot rounds of 71, 73, 71, 72 for a one-under-par aggregate of 287.

When David Feherty became the first Irishman to qualify for the USPGA Tour in December 1993, he was tied 11th at La Quinta, finishing ahead of such notables as Steve Stricker and Paul Stankowski. The Ulsterman shot rounds of 76, 70, 69, 66, 68, 72 for a six-round total of 421.

He retained his card by finishing 100th in the money list at the end of the 1994 season, but he failed to retain his card the following year.