RORY MCILROY became the latest Irish golfing star last night when he captured the European Mens' Amateur title over Italy's Biella course.

The l8-year-old Irish Champion from Holywood who had led on his own from the second round . . . he shared top spot after round one . . .clinched gold with a stunning final round of five under par 68 for a 274 aggregate, 18 under in all.

He hardly put a foot wrong in any of the four rounds compiling sub-par scores on each of the days and led a 12-3 of the home countries with the English pair of Stephen Lewton and Jamie Moul taking silver and bronze respectively.

And the three of them had the distinction of being just clear of the defending Champion, the brilliant Norwegian Marius Thorp, a plus five handicapper who was the leading amateur in the British Open at Hoylake last month.

Despite having a five shot advantage reduced to just two with only a single round remaining to play, McIlroy held his nerve superbly on the final afternoon, continually peppering the pin with deadly approach shots from all angles. He follows in the footsteps of Brian McElhinney, the last Irishman to capture gold three years ago.

McIlroy's 274 total was three strokes better than that of Lewton with Moul a further stroke behind.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw finished in 22nd spot with a 289 score while Darren Crowe from Dunmurry ended in 46th position with 293 and Shane Lowry from Esker Hills in 51st place on 295.