Waterford Teenager Qualifies for U.S. Open Golf

Woodgate

Waterford teenager Kevin Phelan has booked a spot in the 110th US Open on June 17-20, eagling the final hole at a qualifying event to secure his place.
The University of North Florida freshman shot a 65 for his second round at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound on Monday to tie Tour professional Gary Woodland for first place in a sectional qualifier on Monday.
Both players posted six-under 138 over two rounds with Phelan rebounding from a first round 73.

Phelan eagled the final hole by sensationally holing out from the sand from well off the green.
Born in New York, where his father played professional squash (John Phelan, used to own the Reginald Bar), the 19-year-old moved to Waterford with his family aged three. They returned to the US around five years ago.
Speaking to the Florida Times Union, Phelan said: 'It still hasn't sunk in yet. It might at some point. It feels pretty good to just have tied for first in the sectional.'
Commenting on his last stroke, Phelan added, 'it was a perfect shot'.

abouttobebanned

Sweet

dazftw

How's he from Waterford?

mike65

Thats what I was wondring, he's a yank!

Max Powers

He's from Waterford alright, heard the lads on Newstalk sports show. they mentioned that it was a great sporting weekend for the Deise. One of the presenters mentioned (jokingly) that the young golfer, when he makes a good shot, likes to run around, pulling his shirt, screaming and motivating fans and teammates in the style of John Mullane

gscully

Spending the majority of his growing-up years here makes him more Waterford than America. It'll be interesting to see what nationality the PGA show him as.

Hopefully he'll acquit himself well and give this city a well-deserved boost!

anplaya

Max Powers wrote: »

He's from Waterford alright, heard the lads on Newstalk sports show. they mentioned that it was a great sporting weekend for the Deise. One of the presenters mentioned (jokingly) that the young golfer, when he makes a good shot, likes to run around, pulling his shirt, screaming and motivating fans and teammates in the style of John Mullane

born in new york,moved to waterford when he was 3.hes a yank.

abouttobebanned

He's what ever he wants to be.

longshanks

anplaya wrote: »

born in new york,moved to waterford when he was 3.hes a yank.

Jesus was born in a stable, does that make him a horse?

Pittens

born in new york,moved to waterford when he was 3.hes a yank.

3 is the same as 0, since nobody remembers anything much before their 3rd bday. So ignore where he was born. Went to pre-school, primary, and some secondary in Ireland.

So is Waterford lad.

anplaya

Pittens wrote: »

3 is the same as 0, since nobody remembers anything much before their 3rd bday. So ignore where he was born. Went to pre-school, primary, and some secondary in Ireland.

So is Waterford lad.

whatever ye say,hes a yank.

anplaya

longshanks wrote: »

Jesus was born in a stable, does that make him a horse?

no the messiah i think

gscully

Tell ya what...if he makes the cut, he's from Waterford. If he misses the cut, he's American. If he wins it, no doubt he's from Dublin :rolleyes:

decies

longshanks wrote: »

Jesus was born in a stable, does that make him a horse?

Man that is priceless

gscully

anplaya wrote: »

whatever ye say,hes a yank.

Whatever you say...apparently! :rolleyes:

anplaya

agree to disagree then so eh

gscully

anplaya wrote: »

agree to disagree then so eh

We'll leave it in the hands of the mods. If they deem this thread to be about some American kid qualifying for one of the world's biggest golf tournaments, they'll lock the thread.

marlin vs

longshanks wrote: »

Jesus was born in a stable, does that make him a horse?

Well he had a long face.:D

Minstrel27

gscully wrote: »

Hopefully he'll acquit himself well and give this city a well-deserved boost!

He is a hero

abouttobebanned

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Pretty desperate if Waterford is relying on some American who lived here for a few years for a boost.

Maybe we are desperate? And we have every reason to be tbh.

As for whether or not the lad is from waterford....Do we consider Phil Lynott english? I mean he was born and he died over there? We probably would if he considered himself English. So, we'll wait and see what this kid says.

Or we'll wait til he gets to the first tee..

"From Waterford, Ireland..."

Minstrel27

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Maybe we are desperate? And we have every reason to be tbh.

As for whether or not the lad is from waterford....Do we consider Phil Lynott english? I mean he was born and he died over there? We probably would if he considered himself English. So, we'll wait and see what this kid says.

Or we'll wait til he gets to the first tee..

"From Waterford, Ireland..."

He is our hero.

mike65

He is now regardless of what he thinks he is.

deisemad10

He lived from age 3 - 12 here in ireland and the last 8 years in usa ,hes def a yank just listen to this video ,regardless its a great achievment for the lad .


http://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2010/0608/phelank_av.html

dazftw

Sure I was born in a hospital does that make me a doctor? :rolleyes:

The chaps American. He was born there and lives there now. Hes American.

Just like I'm Irish! Living in another country for several years doesn't change that.

Fair play to the chap though. He's probably achieved way more than any of us for his age :eek:

Just listening to that interview.. Hes actually sounds like some cultie!!

mountcarmel

Think this says it all

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1555227764&ref=search

From Waterford, Ireland....

ROCKMAN

Win = Waterford lad through and through

Does well = American with Waterford connections

Does crap= Kilkenny fcuker...


Everyone happy

daftdave

mountcarmel wrote: »

Think this says it all

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1555227764&ref=search

From Waterford, Ireland....

yep....says it all indeed !

nkay1985

If he considers himself to be from Waterford, who are any of us to tell him he's wrong! Ridiculous!

Delighted for the lad. Amazing achievement.

wandatowell

anplaya wrote: »

no the messiah i think

He's not the messiah....he's a very naughty boy

Thats a great achievement, fair play to the young man

jonnyfingers

Who cares where he's from. I'm sticking a fiver on him in the Open!

JackM_79

This lads grandfather was one of the first men in Waterford to run a taxi. Johnny 'Rashers' Phelan, a gentleman, and you would'nt get much more waterford than him, also is grandmother is Kathleen Phelan(nee Deegan), any one from the mount sion area would have known herself and Lilly.

Speak Now

jonnyfingers wrote: »

Who cares where he's from. I'm sticking a fiver on him in the Open!

1000-1

jonnyfingers

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

1000-1

Surely worth a small bet at those odds!

Speak Now

jonnyfingers wrote: »

Surely worth a small bet at those odds!

Not really jonny

Qualifying is a major achievement in its self.

Psychedelic

nkay1985 wrote: »

If he considers himself to be from Waterford, who are any of us to tell him he's wrong! Ridiculous!

We're Waterford born and bred, so we can tell him he's wrong if we want. If he wants to say he's from Waterford because he lived here during his childhood leave him off, but he's not. Not that it really matters anyway. If he can help promote the name of Waterford around the world then fair play to him.

It's like the millions of other Americans who consider themselves Irish, and then you ask them where they are from and they say "oh my great gran-pappy was from Iiiire Land"?

cynder

Must say my husband won the DHL Junior World Championship in 1995 and he is a clare man born and bred. It was on sky sports and he was even in The Star.

He has now started our 10 year old lady golfing.

If you want a good bet, try kinsale king riding in the golden jubilee in ascot, he won the in Dubai and his trainer is a clare man born and bred.

Dublin_Gunner

gscully wrote: »

Tell ya what...if he makes the cut, he's from Waterford. If he misses the cut, he's American. If he wins it, no doubt he's from Dublin :rolleyes:

British.

SUNGOD

Psychedelic wrote: »

It's like the millions of other Americans who consider themselves Irish, and then you ask them where they are from and they say "oh my great gran-pappy was from Iiiire Land"?

no its not, his parents and extended family are irish he lived here for nearly all of his childhood and considers himself to be what all his family are ..irish

Dublin_Gunner

grindelwald wrote: »

Must say my husband won the DHL Junior World Championship in 1995 and he is a clare man born and bred. It was on sky sports and he was even in The Star.

He has now started our 10 year old lady golfing.

If you want a good bet, try kinsale king riding in the golden jubilee in ascot, he won the in Dubai and his trainer is a clare man born and bred.

You want us to put lots of money on your hubby's horse?

gscully

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

You want us to put lots of money on your hubby's horse?

Better off putting it on a hobby horse!

gscully

Psychedelic wrote: »

We're Waterford born and bred, so we can tell him he's wrong if we want.

Just because we're from here doesn't mean we get to tell someone that they are or are not from here. It's not our call. If he spent all his learning years here (and most of his life thus far) and considers himself from here, that's good enough for me.

Anyway, you're from Tramore, so what's it got to so with you?

cynder

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

You want us to put lots of money on your hubby's horse?

Defo not my hubby's horse. But the trainer is a relative through marriage ( now lives in the usa), kinsale king is an ok bet. We were told to put an each way bet on him. Think his a better bet than the Waterford lad.

anplaya

why put this in a thread which is mainly people talking about a lads golfing exploits and being/not being from waterford?hardly has any revelance unless the horse is from the top of the town

Speak Now

grindelwald wrote: »

Defo not my hubby's horse. But the trainer is a relative through marriage ( now lives in the usa), kinsale king is an ok bet. We were told to put an each way bet on him. Think his a better bet than the Waterford lad.

:pac: You're comparing the chances of a horse at 12/1 to a young amauteur whose odds are 1000/1 and just glad to be there playing against the best golfers in the world at Pebble beach :eek:

Psychedelic

SUNGOD wrote: »

no its not, his parents and extended family are irish he lived here for nearly all of his childhood and considers himself to be what all his family are ..irish

Technically he is not really from Waterford but anyway like I said it doesn't matter too much, I was only replying to the thread in the first place coz it wrecks me head the way some Americans claim they're Irish when they're not. But I just listened to the radio interview with him, and he sounds like he's from Waterford anyway.

gscully wrote: »

Anyway, you're from Tramore, so what's it got to so with you?

Tramore is in Waterford

Nolanger

Psychedelic wrote: »

Technically he is not really from Waterford

Why not? There's a Waterford in New York state too

chelloveks

Nolanger wrote: »

Why not? There's a Waterford in New York state too

Theres a Waterford, Connecticut too.....but who gives a flyin fcuk annyway....the kid shot a freakin 65 on the last day to tie for a spot in a great tourney....at an AWESOME place. If I'm playin in a good drinking outing I could shoot that on the front 9!!!!!

jimbojazz

Just said on WLR that he will play under the Irish flag next week and wants to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup unlike Rory McElroy who has stated he wants to represent Great Britain in the Olympics.

Some of the comments on here are typical of Waterford begrudgery. The lad is obviously a proud Waterford and Irishman - all his family are from here and he was raised here so why wouldn't he? I have cousins born and bred in England and everyone of them have Irish passports.

Would ayone on here call Paul McGrath English because he was born in London or David O'Leary English because he was born there as well or Ronan O'Gara American because he was born in San Diego? I could go on but you get my point.

Speak Now

jimbojazz wrote: »

Just said on WLR that he will play under the Irish flag next week and wants to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup unlike Rory McElroy who has stated he wants to represent Great Britain in the Olympics.

Some of the comments on here are typical of Waterford begrudgery. The lad is obviously a proud Waterford and Irishman - all his family are from here and he was raised here so why wouldn't he? I have cousins born and bred in England and everyone of them have Irish passports.

Would ayone on here call Paul McGrath English because he was born in London or David O'Leary English because he was born there as well or Ronan O'Gara American because he was born in San Diego? I could go on but you get my point.

Golf just like rugby and Boxing is a 32 county sport in Ireland. Mcllroy has already played under the green white and orange of Ireland at last years world cup. I'm sure if Mcllroy is good enough to be chosen in 6 years he'll have seen the light by then

jimbojazz

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Golf just like rugby and Boxing is a 32 county sport in Ireland. Mcllroy has already played under the green white and orange of Ireland at last years world cup. I'm sure if Mcllroy is good enough to be chosen in 6 years he'll have seen the light by then

http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/Irish-golfer-Rory-McIlroy-says-hed-play-for-Britain-in-Olympics.html

Speak Now

jimbojazz wrote: »

http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/Irish-golfer-Rory-McIlroy-says-hed-play-for-Britain-in-Olympics.html

Was well aware of that the history thanks. All i'm saying 6 years is a long way away. 20 year olds can some out with some naive stuff. By time it comes around he may have already won a world cup for Ireland and will know where his bread was buttered
Anyway it's all off topic really.
Best of luck to the Irish 19 year old next week