Belmont Hill鈥檚 Broderick showcases bright golfing future
BELMONT, Mass. (BVM) — Around the New England golf scene, 16-year-old John Broderick is starting to garner some major attention. With his most recent event placing, Broderick鈥檚 future is looking bright.聽
Broderick took home the New England Amateur golf championship in July after hitting big shots down the stretch of the tournament. The event would come down to the end as Nick Maccario, 28, grabbed the lead, finishing with his second straight round of 67.聽
With Broderick one shot behind him with two holes to play, the 16-year-old would force an overtime after a birdie on the 17th hole and a par on the 18th. He would later close the door in extra holes to win the 91st New England Amateur golf championship.
John Broderick is 16-years-old, and needed par on his final hole of the tournament to force a playoff for the New England Amateur Championship.
What'd he do? Step up, flag it, and go chasing after it. 馃弮鈥嶁檪锔� |
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf)
Broderick鈥檚 Belmont Hill School golf coach, Charlie Doar, was impressed with the success the teen showed against a strong field that showcased players nearly twice his age.聽
鈥淪ometimes you wonder, if you’re playing in a new event, are you just so blissfully unaware that you just play well anyway?,鈥� Doar said. 鈥淭here might have been some of that to him initially, but he won a couple junior tournaments this summer. Not only did he win the New England Am., but he won it against a field that鈥檚 arguably as strong as it鈥檒l get because there鈥檚 so many good players in the Metro-Boston area. He had been short for a long time so he鈥檚 always used to playing against older, longer hitting players.
鈥淗e plays with a lot of confidence. He hits putts hard to the back of the hole, and he takes very little time over the ball. He definitely plays with a bit of swagger, which is kind of funny because in and around the halls of Belmont Hill, he鈥檚 quite quiet and he kind of keeps to himself. Kids know about him, just because they鈥檝e heard about his success, but he’s not going to be the first to tell you about it.鈥�
On the golf course Broderick showcases a unique skill set for his age. Playing against much older competition doesn’t seem to faze the mild-mannered teen.聽
鈥淗e is the ultimate competitor in that as a golfer, he doesn’t care much about mechanics,鈥� Doar said. 鈥淗e basically worries about getting the ball in the hole, he鈥檚 more of a see ball, hit ball in the hole kind of guy. He is unfazed by bigger, older kids. He鈥檚 been winning tournaments for a few years now and he’s literally half the size of his competitors. He鈥檚 got a natural ability with the golf club in his hand. He鈥檚 a golf junkie, he鈥檚 all about it.鈥�
Golf didn鈥檛 run in the family for Broderick. Growing up, the Belmont Hill School junior competed in other sports before picking up a golf club. After an injury forced him away from hockey for the year, Broderick would find the sport he鈥檚 become so obsessed with.
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e been so impressed with is, he competes nationally against kids who have 12-month seasons,鈥� Doar said. 鈥淟ast winter, he won a tournament at Doral (Florida) against an international field and here鈥檚 John who probably came from two feet of snow, flew down, and won. I think he hits balls in a net in his basement and he probably has a little strip of astroturf to putt on, but in that way it鈥檚 almost perfect for him because he keeps things pretty simple.鈥�
Broderick鈥檚 high school coach is quick to point out that he has little influence on the teen鈥檚 game, but he鈥檚 been excited to see Broderick鈥檚 game grow over the years. Looking forward, he believes the Belmont Hill junior has no ceiling.
鈥淚 would like to say that he鈥檚 going to be a force in New England amateur golf for the next few years, and I do think he will be,鈥� Doar said. 鈥淏ut I almost hope that he鈥檚 busy doing national stuff. In golf when you get to a certain level it’s so much mental. I think he’s got that positive attitude and confidence that I think will allow him to play in the USGA events, Division I golf, and this might really become his thing.聽
鈥淚 think being from New England as a golfer might help in that way. He might go to college golf and be competing against kids who have almost played too much up until that point and I think, for that reason, he鈥檒l be a little fresher. If I鈥檓 being truthful, the sky鈥檚 the limit for him.鈥�
