Fintan Buckley (President, Golfing Union of Ireland) presenting Gavin Moynihan (The Island) with the 2012 Irish Amateur Open Championship trophy at Royal Dublin Golf Club (13/05/2012). Also in the picture are Sean Kelly (Captain, The Royal Dublin Golf Club and Fegus Madigan (President, The Royal Dublin Golf Club)
13 May 2012
The Boy Wonder
Gavin Moynihan captured his first ever individual Irish title on Sunday as the schoolboy won the Irish Amatuer Open title at a wild Royal Dublin.
Just 17 years old, the fifth year student from Malahide Community School controlled his golf in 45kph gusts at the Dollymout links to win by one from Robin Kind (Netherlands) and in doing so, becomes the youngest ever Irishman to win the title.
It's been a wonderful few months for Moynihan, who finished third at the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in the Autumn, while just last month he won the coveted Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath near Birmingham, a title that Lee Westwood and Justin Rose have both won.
He also helped Malahide Community School to victory in the Irish Schools Match Play Championship in April at Loughrea.
Brian Casey (Headfort) deserves special mention and his performance over the last 54 holes was remarkable. Having opened with an 8 over par round of 80, he played the final 54 holes of the championship in 2 over par to give him third place outright behind Kind.
Mike Miller (USA) and Daan Huizing (Netherlands) both finished in a tie for fourth place.
The joint 54 hole leader, alongside Moynihan, Richard Bridges had a final round to forget, carding 84 to end quite a way back.