GolfRichie Coughlan started the sixth and final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida yesterday at three over par, knowing he would have to shoot at least level par or better to win his Nationwide Tour card for next season.

In the end the task proved beyond him. His final round of 74 for five-over-par 437 left him two shots short of the qualifying mark. However, he qualifies for Nationwide conditional membership, which will still guarantee him 15 to 20 tournament starts in 2004, on a tour that is now worth more than $15 million in prize money, and from where the top 20 money earners will go straight onto the PGA Tour on 2005.

It was a close call as the man from Birr made two birdies coming in, but in the end his three double bogeys earlier in the tournament were the difference.

"It was a frustrating week and it got worse as the week went on. We just didn't seem to be able to read the grain on these greens, it was tough," said Coughlan.

Sweden's Mathias Gronberg was the leading qualifier on 20-under-par 412 - two ahead of Danny Ellis and Michael Allen.