There was no joy for the three Irish competitors as the six-round European tour qualifying school began in Spain yesterday. All three played on Sotogrande, the easier of the two courses yesterday, but Francis Howley, Jim Carvill and Damien Mooney could only manage 74, 75 and 79 respectively.

That compared unfavourably with a leading score of 66 and left them with a mountain to climb even at this early stage of the marathon test.

Only the leading 35 and ties of the 181 players earn cards for next year's circuit and 18-year-old Justin Rose, the focus of so much attention after his British Open heroics in July, is already facing an uphill battle after shooting 78 at San Roque.

The best score at San Roque was the four under par 68 of Spaniard Carlos Rodiles, one better than Swede Pehr Magnebrant.

Former US Tour winner Mac O'Grady shot 75, but the controversy that has dogged the 47-year-old's career continued as he accused South African playing partner Nico van Rensburg of distracting him, while the caddie of Welshman Stephen Dodd, the other man in the group, said that O'Grady's own behaviour was "disgusting."

In Florida, Keith Nolan made a steady start in his attempt to retain his US Tour card when he was even par after 13 holes of his first round. However, it was indicative of the standard that he was only tied 92nd at that stage.