A Waterford teenager has sensationally qualified for next week’s US Open golf championship.

Talented amateur Kevin Phelan was a junior member at Waterford Castle before moving to Jacksonville, Florida six years ago with his family.

His parents are John and Josephine Phelan, former owners of the Reginald Bar on the Mall. A native of Bernard Place, his dad is a former Irish squash international and coach, and played professionally in the States. A member of the well-known Beecher family, mum hails from Tallow in West Waterford.

Though born in New York, Kevin moved to Waterford at the age of 3 and grew up in Grantstown. He has many friends and ex-schoolmates here, not to mention his old Castle mentors Derry Kiely and Tom O’Leary. Kevin’s younger brother Brian is also a promising junior golfer.

A round of 65, including a remarkable final-hole eagle in a sectional qualifier at Hobe Sound on Monday, booked the 19-year-old North Florida University Freshman’s place at Pebble Beach. An award-winning student at high school, he’s now majoring in Business Management. Clearly his course management is up to scratch too.