RICHIE COUGHLAN narrowly failed to top the European Tour Pre-Qualifying I stage at Five Lakes near London yesterday, but he comfortably achieved his objective of making it through to the next phase of the process. Indeed, Coughlan was one of four Irishmen - along with James Loughnane, John Dwyer and Jim Carvill - who were successful at the various regional venues.

South African Jean Hugo, who only turned professional three months ago, produced a closing 68 for 14-under-par 274 which left him one clear of second-placed finisher Coughlan at Five Lakes. The Irishman was actually three shots clear of Hugo at the turn in yesterday's fourth and final round but birdies at the 10th and 11th, where Coughlan dropped a shot, left them tied entering the finishing stretch.

The all-important hole proved to be the short 17th which Coughlan three-putted to leave Hugo one ahead playing the last - and the African holed a fourfooter for par at the 446 yards finishing hole to stay ahead. "My aim is to win my European Tour card and to establish myself in Europe. I like playing in the wind where you have to manufacture shots," said Hugo.

Coughlan, however, achieved his aim of qualifying for the PreQualifying II stage which will take place at Pals, Emporada and Peralada on October 26th-29th when approximately 300 players will be chasing 90 places into the final qualifying scheduled for San Roque and Sotogrande in November.

The Luttrellstown Castle-attached touring professional shot a fourth round 71 for 275 to comfortably make it through to the next phase. And the former Walker Cup player faces a busy few weeks as he also intends to attempt to regain his US Tour card too. Agonisingly, Bryan Omelia, who had a closing round 73 for 288, failed by one shot to get among the 31 players to progress from Five Lakes.

Meanwhile, two Irishmen where successful at Carden Park where Italian Federico Bisazza shot a final round 68 for 281 to lead the way home, two shots clear of England's Michael Welch. But Loughnane and Dwyer, the club professional at Ashbourne, also made it. Loughane finished with a 73 for 295 to be tied-21st while Dwyer had a closing 76 for 296 to finish on the mark.

There was disappointment for John Langan at that venue when his final round 74 for 297 proved to be one shot too many while Leslie Walker was two shots outside the desired target. Irish amateur Gary Cullen and former tour players Francis Howley and Raymond Burns were all unsuccessful in their attempts to win tickets to PQII.

Jim Carvill, however, produced a brave 74 in tough conditions at Wynyard to qualify in tied-14th place. Three members of the Britain and Ireland team that won the Walker Cup at Nairn last week - Lorne Kelly, Graham Rankin and Simon Dyson - also qualified from that venue where the leading qualifier was Charles Challen of England. Graham Spring's bid to progress was in vain, though, as he shot a final round 74 for 294 which was only good enough for tied-63rd place.

In the qualifying at Chart Hills, Damien Mooney was one shot away from making it to phase two after a final round 71 put him on the 295 mark.