Gavin Moynihan took an important first step towards earning a full tour card for 2016 when he emerged from Stage One of the European Tour qualifying at Ribagolfe, outside Lisbon, with a final round 71 for 279, nine-under-par, which left the 22-year-old Dubliner in a share of fifth place.

Just a month on from playing a leading role in Britain and Ireland's Walker Cup success, The Island golfer comfortably moved on to the next phase of the qualifying process with Stage Two set for various courses in Spain next month. He became the fourth Irish member of that Walker Cup team to advance, joining Paul Dunne, Jack Hume and Gary Hurley who had previously safely negotiated the initial qualifying hurdle.

Moynihan was the only Irishman to make it out of qualifying in Portugal, as Brendan McCarroll - who had a final round 71 for 287, one-under - came up just short of securing one of the 24 places on offer.

Former Irish PGA champion Michael McGeady was successful in his qualifying at d’Hardelot in France, where the 37-year-old Derryman shot a fine final round 66 for 278, six-under, to finish in tied-eighth and earn his ticket to Stage Two.