Kennedy Kentucky-bound as he signs for University of Louisville 2020

Max Kennedy. Picture: Pat Cashman Photography

Royal Dublin's Max Kennedy will join the University of Louisville on a golf scholarship next year.

A two-time Faldo Junior Series champion, he reached the quarterfinals of the British Boys Championship at Saunton Golf Club in August and won the Leinster U18 and the Irish 2018 U18 Order of Merit awards.

A Boys international, he will be 19 when he begins a four-year scholarship in August 2020, joining a top Division 1 college with a strong Irish tradition.

Max Kennedy

Kinsale's John Murphy and Oughterard's Devin Morley are seniors this year while Belfast's Hugh O'Hare is a sophomore and Kanturk's Mairead Martin, a freshman.

The University of Louisville is ranked 15th in NCAA Division 1 and Kennedy is thrilled about the move which offers him the ideal combination of first-class competition and top academics.

He visited the college with his father Mannix during the mid-term break in October and coach Mark Crabtree and assistant Justin Tereshko (a top 100 WAGR player himself) gave them a tour of the campus and its impressive facilities.

The Cardinals play at the University of Louisville Golf Club, a 20-minute drive from campus, and also enjoy their own 12,000 sq. ft. indoor golf-only facility.

Ryder Cup and Major championship venue Valhalla is also nearby and available for team practice.