Gavin Moynihan is hoping that a mini-reunion for half of the recent victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team can spur him and his friends on to success at this week’s Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort.
The Dubliner is joined at the stunning Carlow venue by three more of the five Irish players who made history at Royal Lytham and St Annes as the biggest representation from the Emerald Isle in the amateur game’s most famous team event.
With Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Cormac Sharvin all in the field, as well as their English team-mate Jimmy Mullen – who recorded a 100 per cent record at the Walker Cup before making a huge impression on his professional debut at last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – local fans may well be given a glimpse into the future of European golf this week.
Certainly, Mullen and Paul Dunne’s respective performances in Scotland last week are cause for inspiration for Moynihan and, having cleared the first hurdle in The European Tour’s Qualifying School at last week’s first stage, he is in confident mood ahead of his Challenge Tour debut.
“It’s great to be here and the fact that there are a few of us here too is really good,” said the 21 year old. “I played the course about two months ago with the pro here, and I played again this week so I feel as though I know the course reasonably well.
“I’m looking forward to it starting now, there are a few people coming down from my home club so it’ll be great.
“It’s only been four weeks since the Walker Cup and there are five of us here which is great. That win four weeks ago was unbelievable, especially given that we gave them a good beating. It’s great that we’re all back together. We’re all looking forward to it, and we’re playing well to so I expect us to do well.
“It’s amazing how well Paul (Dunne) has done this year, playing well in two big tournaments. But apart from that, I’ve nearly played better than him in the amateur events were we’ve both been playing. It’s amazing, if you play well you can be well up there. It’s just getting your head right and going out and playing.
“There are obviously bigger things at stake in professional tournaments and not just the money, but I’m just trying to keep that out of my mind and treat it like an amateur tournament, just go out and enjoy it and play golf.”
Having played in two Walker Cups and one Junior Ryder Cup, Moynihan is well versed in the team aspect of golf and, while it is every man for himself on the professional circuit, he does think that having so many former team-mates and friends on tour will be a huge asset as he takes his first steps in the paid ranks.
“Most of us will be playing in the same tournaments early on because we’re all starting from scratch,” said the two time Irish Amateur Open winner. “I think it will be big to have all the guys there, it makes it easier travelling and staying in the hotels with the lads.
“You can have a bit more fun as well and it’ll make you relaxed. I know about a quarter of the field here this week and that’s great - you can play practice rounds together and you might be paired together. That always helps, I think. It makes everything a bit easier.
“I can’t wait to play on the Challenge Tour. The standard is no different to The European Tour. Of course, it’s a step below in the ladder but the scoring is very impressive and the courses they play are not easy either. If you play well on here you’re well capable of playing on The European Tour.”
Moynihan and his fellow young local hopefuls will come up against an extremely strong field which includes former European Tour winners such as Rhys Davies of Wales and former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Ricardo Santos of Portugal.
Alongside those experienced champions will be many of Europe and the world’s most promising young future stars of the game.
Ruaidhri McGee is a promising local hope and he is the highest-ranked Irishman in the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman Rankings, in 21st position and just six spots outside of the top 15 who graduate to The European Tour at the season’s end.
