Gavin Moynihan was thrilled to finish eagle-birdie in the South African Open and make his first cut of the year as he battles to win back his European Tour card.

The Dubliner (25) was two strokes outside the cut mark with just two holes to go before he took advantage of the altitude at Randpark Golf Club’s Bushwillow Course.

The man from the Island blasted a 385-yard drive down the 17th before firing a 183-yard eight-iron to 25 feet pin high.

After rolling home the eagle putt, he hit a 100-yard lob wedge to three feet at the 18th and converted the putt to card a two-under 69 and make the four-under-par cut with a shot to spare on five-under.

“Delighted with the finish,” Moynihan said.

Scores

Joking after being asked about his prodigious drive on the 17th, he added: “Joburg altitude makes you feel great!”

He finished the day tied for 44th on five-under and six shots behind Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen, who followed a 65 with a five-under 66 on the Firethorn Course.

The Finn leads by a shot on 11-under par from England’s Sam Horsfield and a quartet of South Africans —Thriston Lawrence, Jaco Ahlers, Trevor Fisher Jnr and 18-year old amateur star Jayden Schaper.

Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell (35), who won his card at the Qualifying School last year, posted a three-under 68 to make the cut on the mark but Portmarnock's Conor Purcell (22) missed out on level par after a brace of 71s.

Purcell now turns his attention to a qualifier for the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and the MENA Tour qualifying school in Jordan.