Brady wins Leinster Boys’ title
ROSSLARE’S JOHN Brady clinched the Leinster Boys’ title at Mullingar after the championship was reduced to 54 holes.
Sixteen-year-old Brady was seven shots clear of the field at the end of round three. As the leaders prepared for the final round on Thursday afternoon, Mullingar was under siege from thunderstorms.
A torrential downpour flooded the greens and with thunder and lightning in the skies, the organisers had no option but to cancel the final round.
In any event, Brady was a clear winner having led the championship for 36 holes. The Rosslare teenager carded an opening round of 72 to trail Belvoir Park’s Patrick Brennan by two shots, but a second round 68, the lowest round of the week at Mullingar, put Brady in pole position.
Five ahead at the halfway stage, Brady increased his lead with a third round 70 and was sitting on a seven-stroke lead after 54 holes.
As the final round was cancelled, Brady’s three-round total of 210 made him a con- vincing winner. Athenry’s David Kitt finished second on 217 (72-73-72), while Castle’s Robert Moran was third on 219 (75-72-72).
Having won the Connacht Under-16 title in 2015, this marks the biggest success yet for Brady as he follows in the footsteps of famous names like Pádraig Harrington (1988 champion) and Shane Lowry (2005 champion).
A member of the Ireland Under-16 panel, Brady is the latest talent to emerge from Rosslare. Clubmate Gary Collins won the Leinster Youths in 2013.