O'Rourke shoots 62 at Portmarnock Links

Naas ace Conor O'Rourke drives from the eighth tee during round one of the Mullingar Scratch Cup. 3rd August 2014. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie

If you ever wondered how well Ireland's top amateurs play the game, think of this. Naas' Conor O'Rourke shot a nine under par 62 in the recent Titleist Alliance outing at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

What's even more surprising is that the 23-year old isn't a member of the national Senior Panel but the Development Panel.

O'Rourke birdied the first and fourth, eagled the sixth and then birdied the eighth, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th.

He didn't have anything higher than a four on his card and won the by nine shots from Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan.

He was cut by 1.0 to plus 2.7 for his efforts, which means a tip of the hat to Educogym in Naas and PGA coach Gavin Lunny.

"I had a great session with Neil Manchip and Donal Scott during National Development panel coaching last weekend," says Conor, who is playing golf full time now and does all his practice with fellow Naas man Jack Hume, the West of Ireland champion. "It's good for us both."