Lone survivor — Moynihan advances to last 32 in British Amateur
GAVIN MOYNIHAN. PICTURE: PAT CASHMAN
Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy bowed out but The Island's Gavin Moynihan came through the first round of the British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie.
Naas man Hume lost 3 and 1 to Finland's Miki Kuronen as Ballymena's McElroy fell to England's Jack Yule 5 and 3.
Reigning Irish Amateur Open champion Moynihan was out in the fourth match of the day and made sure of his place in the last 32 with a 2 and 1 win over the Isle of Man's Tom Gandy.
Moynihan is already considered a certainty to play in his second Walker Cup in September but he's still keen to rack up the silverware before he turns professional in the autumn and having won his second Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay title last month as well as last season's Scottish Open Strokeplay at nearby Panmure.
It's far to early to predict an Amateur Championship win for Moynihan but a place in the next year's Masters and US Open, not to mention The Open at St Andrews next month, would be reason enough to delay a move into the pro ranks.
Moynihan plays Alexandre Daydo of France in Thursday morning's second round with the winner to face Italy's Michele Cea, who beat the leading qualifier Craig Howie of Scotland, or Iceland's Andri Bjornsson.
Elsewhere, Lytham Trophy winner Marcus Kinhult of Sweden, the highest ranked player in the field at world No 3, lost by one hole to Norway's Vetle Maroy while Spain's Mario Galiano fell by two holes to Germany's Yannik Paul.
Reigning European Individual champion Ashley Chesters beat Australia's Taylor MacDonald 3 and 2 while in an all-Scotland clash, Grant Forrest thumped Dunbar's Alexander Culverwell 6 and 4.
Welsh Amateur winner Jimmy Mullen had a 2 and 1 win over Jeremy Gandon of France though Gandon's compatriot, the impressive Romain Lanquesque, was a 3 and 2 winner over Rico Hoey of the United States.
