Rising star Gavin staying grounded

There have been too many examples over the years of promising young Irish amateur golfers losing the run of themselves and turning professional without considering all the implications.

So it was good to hear two outstanding members of the current crop, 19-year-old Gavin Moynihan from the Island club in Dublin, and Gary Hurley, 21, from West Waterford, insist yesterday they would be completing their university education before even considering any moves in that direction.

Moynihan, arguably the most promising of the lot, is a student at the University of Alabama, already a Walker Cup player and recent winner of the Scottish Amateur Open on the back of the Irish equivalent in 2013. But the slightly built red head with the disarming smile isn’t looking beyond completing his studies in Alabama before contemplating his future.