Alan Dunbar targets professional career after British Amateur win

New British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar plans to compete at the European Tour qualifying school in September.

The 22-year-old's win at Troon on Saturday has earned him invitations to this year's Open as well as the US Masters and US Open in 2013.

Dunbar, a Walker Cup winner from Graeme McDowell's Rathmore club, said: "I have done all I can do in amateur golf. I want to give pro golf a go.

"I want to go to qualifying school as an amateur to see how I get on."

Dunbar beat Matthias Schwab of Austria on the final hole to win the British Amateur crown in a tournament which had a field of 288 hopefuls.

After two rounds of strokeplay, the top 64 qualified for the matchplay stages and Dunbar came through five matches to set up the 36-hole final against Schwab.

The County Antrim golfer becomes the third player from Northern Ireland to win the British Amateur Championship following the successes of Garth McGimpsey in 1985 and Michael Hoey in 2001.

"It is a tough event to win with so many players taking part over two courses," he said.

"You need a few breaks but I played a lot of good golf.

"We will sit down over the next few days and have a look at things and see where I want to go."

Dunbar is one of four amateurs playing in this week's Irish Open at Royal Portrush, neighbouring his home club Rathmore.