David Higgins of Waterville hit the right mood yesterday in preparation for a crucial, upcoming assignment. With a stunning back nine of 31 in a round of 70, he took the major, net prize in the Mitsubishi Electric Links Society outing at The Island.

Higgins will be among the Irish challengers seeking tour cards in the European Qualifying School on Spain's Costa del Sel next week. "Days like this become very important memories when you find yourself in competitive situations," he said afterwards.

Predictably, he won a countback from Royal Dublin eight-handicapper Tony Diamond who also shot 70. And the gross prize was the reward for another 70, from Des Smyth, who drove the 312-yard 11th and holed a 15-foot putt for an eagle two.

The Kerry professional has a talent for low scoring as he proved when covering seven holes in nine under par while competing in the South African Tour School three years ago. On this occasion, however, Higgins started with four bogeys and actually had a fresh-air shot in a double-bogey at the sixth.