Moynihan pumped by closing birdies

Two birdies in his closing three holes at least gave Gavin Moynihan something to celebrate on the occasion of his 21st birthday and in his first round as a pro on day one of the Italian Open at Monza.

There was a pump of his right fist when Moynihan rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the final hole in a score of a one over par 73 on the Milano Golf Club course.

It left the European Tour’s newest professional trailing 10 shots behind Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who threaded his way through the tight, tree-lined course for a two-stroke lead courtesy of a nine-under-par 63 that included eight birdies in succession.