Walker Cup star Gavin Moynihan has joined ISM and will play his first event as a professional at this week’s 72° OPEN D'ITALIA presented by DAMIANI.

A two-time Irish Amateur champion, winner of the Peter McEvoy Trophy and the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Championship, Irishman Gavin, 20, took part in his second Walker Cup, at Royal Lytham & St Annes, at the weekend.

Gavin, a former student of the University of Alabama, contributed two points in Great Britain and Ireland’s dominant 16.5-9.5 win, the same number he posted in the defeat by the United States in 2013.

After a stellar amateur career, he is now looking forward to taking his game to another level and joining the professional ranks.

Gavin said: “It’s a very exciting time for me and I just can’t wait to get started in Italy. I’ve known for some time that I would turn professional after the Walker Cup.

“I’ve loved my time learning the game as an amateur but I feel I’m ready to go professional. I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I want to test myself against the best in the sport.

“I think that ISM is the best management company to help me develop and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

ISM has guided the careers of former world number one Lee Westwood, 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, as well as a host of the sport’s other top players.

Chief Executive Officer Chubby Chandler said: “We’ve followed Gavin’s development for a long time and we’re sure we can help him go on to have a great career.

“ISM has a really good crop of young players full of potential and Gavin will only add to that. I’m looking forward to seeing him progress.”