John Moran from Ireland clinched a dramatic victory in the English U14 Championship for the Reid Trophy at the West Sussex Golf Club on August 9, 2024. Moran triumphed after an intense five-way play-off, beating Louis Le Sager, Ollie McEvoy, Casper van Rensburg, and Fraser Walters, all of whom had finished with an overall score of +4, necessitating a sudden death play-off.
The play-off provided a thrilling spectacle. On the first hole, a par-5, McEvoy initially appeared to have the upper hand but faltered with a three-putt, while the other competitors made birdies, leading to his elimination. The second hole, a par-4, saw Moran, Le Sager, van Rensburg, and Walters all par the hole, with van Rensburg and Walters missing birdie opportunities. The third hole, another par-4, resulted in further eliminations as van Rensburg’s tee shot landed in a bunker and Walters failed to get up-and-down for par.
The final showdown on the par-5 first hole saw Moran prevail. Despite straying right of the green, Moran sank a remarkable 25-foot birdie putt to secure the win after Le Sager’s effort missed following a lay-up necessitated by his tee shot landing in the rough.
Reflecting on his victory, Moran commented, “It was intense, but I was just focusing on my own golf. I felt like I’d been giving myself really good opportunities all day and I just had to wait for the putts to drop and fortunately on the last it did. Anything could’ve happened in the weather. I’ve played enough golf to know that anything can really happen, and I know Louis is a fantastic putter, so I knew I had to give it a go and see what happens. All I could do was focus on my own game and luckily it went in. It’s great to be crowned champion. It’s the first competition I’ve won so it’s a pleasure for this to be the first one. It’s great to be in the history books with all the great names who have won the Reid Trophy and it’s my last under-14 event so to come out on top is great.”
The tournament progressed under challenging weather conditions, starting with sunny skies but concluding in rain. The final day’s heavy rains and blustery conditions added an extra layer of difficulty for the players. Le Sager had led the competition heading into the final round, but the final day saw significant momentum shifts. An early birdie followed by a triple-bogey on the 6th hole derailed his early advantage. Meanwhile, Walters displayed a strong back-nine performance to join the clubhouse leaders along with McEvoy and Moran. Van Rensburg, who had an opportunity to win outright, stumbled with a double-bogey on the 18th hole, forcing the play-off. Le Sager’s late birdies on the 14th and 16th holes reignited his chances, but a bogey on the 18th relegated him to the play-off.
One of the standout performances of the tournament came from Spain’s Jorge de la Riva, who shot a remarkable four-under 64, ultimately finishing in 7th place, just two shots behind the leaders.
Moran’s victory at the Reid Trophy marks his first career win, etching his name alongside other past winners in the annals of this prestigious youth golf championship. The Reid Trophy continues to be a significant event showcasing emerging talent in the under-14 golf category, and Moran’s win adds a thrilling chapter to its storied history.
