Donncha Cleary is the 2021 Irish Under-16 Boys Champion after winning a six-hole playoff at Cahir Park GC. The Tipperary golfer defeated Tralee’s Mark Gazi on the third sudden-death hole after the duo could not be separated in the regulation three holes having parred 1, 2 and 18.
Cleary and Gazi both finished on level par for the day and for the tournament, as they finished a single shot ahead of the field after the duo both bogeyed the 18th. Co. Louth’s Gavin Tiernan finished in third place on +1 after a level par round of 71.
Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint) and Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park) both finished in a tie for fourth place on +3. Overnight leader Adam Buchanan (Malone) and Eoghan Cassidy finished in a tie for sixth on +4.
Speaking after the win, Cleary said it was an honour to win the title in his home county:
“I’m over the moon. I’ve been there or thereabouts before. To get the job done is fantastic. Hopefully there is more to come,” he said.
“It was nice to finish with a par. I played with Mark all day, and he played great. It’s nice to win the trophy, playing well. I can still play this tournament next year. It means everything, and opens up a lot of doors for me. To win in your home county is fantastic.”
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