Keating wins Ulster Boys as Storm Francis forces abandonment of day two
Seapoint’s Dylan Keating Picture by Pat Cashman
Seapoint’s Dylan Keating captured the Ulster Boys Championship at Warrenpoint when the second day was abandoned due to structural damage to the course.
The Co Louth man (18) opened with a five-under-par 66 to lead by five strokes from Balmoral’s Conor Clarke and by six from a six-man group on one-over featuring Adam Challoner, Thomas Higgins, Luke Cunninghan, Robert Galligan, Ethan Garvey and Mel Deasy.
However, due to overnight flooding caused by Storm Francis, and with no let-up forecast, Ulster Branch officials had no choice but to abandon the second round and declare the result over 18 holes.
Keating birdied the first, third and fourth, bogeyed the eighth but birdied the ninth to turn in 34, then made an eagle two at the 11th before parring his way home.
An Irish Boys international, Keating won Regional Qualifying for The Open and the Munster Boys last year having previously captured the Ulster Under 16 and Irish Under 16 titles.
The best U17 player was Adam Challoner (Galway Bay) who shot 72 to win on a countback from four others.
