His wire-to-wire victory means that he is he fourth Irish player to win the title after Paddy Gribben, Stephen Browne and Brian McElhinney.

"I can't believe it," he said. "It is a great feeling to know that I will be getting an invitation to play in the Open next year.

"I am so pleased with the way I played this week and also with the way I won it."

Two shots clear of Norway's Anders Kristiansen entering the final round, McIlroy found himself just one stoke ahead of England's Stephen Lewton with five to play.

Lewton birdied the 15th to close the gap to one shot for the second time, but McIlroy birdied the par-five 16th and 18th holes to win by three.

McIlroy added: "I've been playing well and it was just a matter of putting four rounds together. To finish 18 under on that course was a good achievement. It set up well for me.

"It is a really nice feeling as it is my first big win outside Ireland and it is a great feeling to be in Open next year.

"The invite for the Open was on my mind. I won't lie and say it wasn't. I kept thinking about I had to snap myself out of it and try to play one shot at a time. I'm definitely not turning pro. I'm going to wait around for the Walker Cup."

England's Jamie Moul was third on 14 under par after a closing 66 with defending champion Marius Thorp of Norway in joint fourth with Kristiansen on 12 under.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw was the next best of the Irish in a share of 24th place on three under after a two under par 71with Darren Crowe (75) in 46th and Shane Lowry (78) 51st.