Keating, Hogg and Murphy win 2020 Underage Orders of Merit

Dylan Keating (Seapoint) driving at the 11th tee in the first round of the 2020 Irish Boys Under18 Amateur Close Championship at Thurles Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Seapoint’s Dylan Keating, Belvoir Park’s Darcy Hogg and Douglas’ Jack Murphy have been confirmed as winners of the Boys Underage Orders of Merit for 2020.

Keating, winner of the Under 18 Order of Merit, claimed the Connacht and Ulster Boys Championships while also notching up a top 15 finish in the Irish Boys Championship in Thurles. His points total of 240 was 67 points clear of Baltinglass’ Joseph Byrne in second (173 points) with Faithlegg’s Alex King in third on 170.

Hogg topped the Under 16 Order of Merit after a runner up finish in the Ulster Under 16 Boys, third place in the Irish U16 Boys and the Connacht U16 Boys Championships, and the Belfast teenager completed his points haul with a top ten in the Leinster U16 Boys Championship.

Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park)

Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park) driving from the 1st tee during the first round of the 2020 Irish Boys Under 16 Amateur Open Championship at Lurgan Golf Club (19/08/2020). Picture by Pat Cashman

Jack Murphy (Douglas)

Jack Murphy (Douglas) driving at the 14th tee during the final round of the 2019 Irish Boys Under 16 Amateur Open Championship at Donabate Golf Club (23/08/2019). Picture by Pat Cashman

His winning points total of 360 was 50 clear of Malahide's Gavin O'Neill in second (310), with Alex King in third place on 260.

Douglas’ Jack Murphy clinched the Under 14 Order of Merit after his win in the Ulster U14 Championship and a runner-up finish in the Leinster U14 Championship. He finished on 195, 30 points clear of Warrenpoint’s Harry McArdle and Enniscorthy’s Sean Cooper on 165.