Rory McDonald-O’Brien finishes top British player in Reid Trophy
Teenage Shropshire golfer Rory McDonald-O’Brien was the top British player as he finished a terrific joint-fourth in the English Boys' Under-14 Open Amateur Strokeplay.
The Lilleshall Hall member, 13, had enjoyed a terrific second-round 70 that saw him move 14 places up the leaderboard and into a share of fifth spot in a field of 144 from 21 countries.
His final round of 74 at Manchester Golf Club saw him finish two over for the tournament.
McDonald-O’Brien comfortably achieved his aim of a top-10 finish and said: “It’s been a really good week and I’ve played some good golf.”
He felt some pressure on the first tee on the final day, under the gaze of the spectators, and the adrenalin quickly kicked in.
“I hit a nine iron straight over the back of the green,” he said. “I chipped on and holed a 20-footer for a bogey, but then I made pars to steady the ship.”
He played very tidily with three pars and a birdie on the 10th in the gusting wind.
South Africa’s Casey Jarvis walked away with the Reid Trophy, finishing on four-under par.
The 14-year-old signed off with an 18th-hole birdie and a final round of two-over 74. It gave him a two-shot victory over Spain’s Jose Ballester.
Now, both Jarvis and McDonald-O’Brien will head to the Scottish Under-14s.
