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 round 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.
However for a second event in succession all four days will be under a ‘preferred lie’ rule.
Rookie pro and newly-turned 21-year old Gavin Moynihan about to birdie the last
It has been a hectic four days of Moynihan coming off Sunday’s Walker Cup victory and then turning pro on Monday and little wonder he was delighted to finally get to the first tee on the course lying right beside the famed Monza Autodrome.
Moynihan got the perfect pro career start when he holed a 10-foot putt for birdie ahead of dropping shots at three, seven where he found the trees with his tee shot, and then at eight where he went with driver instead of 3-wood while he bogeyed 11 from 10 feet.
However he just missed an eagle putt at 16 before a huge drive down the last, and after hitting 6-iron in practice on Wednesday, it was just a wedge into 18 for birdie.
“I didn’t play that well at all and just wasn’t comfortable off a few of the tees while I had a few lip-outs, as well,” he said.
“It was just nice to get those couple of birdies in there at the end in what wasn’t a great round.
“Overall, I am just happy to get this first round under my belt given I also was experiencing some nerves more on the putting side than off the tee
“So if I can start tomorrow like I finished today then hopefully I should be here for all four rounds which would be great.”
Moynihan is out in the second group this morning (FRD) at 7.40am local time so any 21st celebration remains on hold to he returns home.
Paul McGinley and Peter Lawrie head the eight-man Irish contingent with four under par 68s while Harrington capped his round of 70 landing a 6-iron to six feet at the par five 16th and holing the eagle putt.
