Hurley pipped to European Amateur Championship title

Gary Hurley had to settle for a European Amateur Championship silver medal for the second successive year at the weekend when he failed by a whisker to take the title in Slovakia.

The West Waterford star finished the 72 holes at Penati with an aggregate of 270 –18 under par –a mere stroke behind Italian Stefano Mazzoli.

His final round of level par 72 was his worst of the week. He had 16 pars and just one birdie – at 11– and one bogey – at 13.

Hurley required a birdie three at the last which he had achieved on the previous two days to force a play-off. However, he could manage only a par and had to settle for second spot.

The Italian collected two vital birdies over the final four holes to become champion.

It was a good tournament for the Irish though as Gavin Moynihan took the bronze medal with a score of 271 after he bogeyed the 17th on his way to a 69.

Robin Dawson of Faithlegg finished joint sixth with a total of 273 while Open hero Paul Dunne ended in a tie for 11th place with a 274 aggregate and Jack Hume was just behind on 275.