Belmont Hill’s 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’s future is looking bright.
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.
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. 🏃♂️#TourSauce | @NoLayingUp pic.twitter.com/JR8lMH0K1J
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) July 24, 2020
Broderick’s 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.
“Sometimes you wonder, if you’re playing in a new event, are you just so blissfully unaware that you just play well anyway?,” Doar said. “There 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’s arguably as strong as it’ll get because there’s so many good players in the Metro-Boston area. He had been short for a long time so he’s always used to playing against older, longer hitting players.
“He 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’s quite quiet and he kind of keeps to himself. Kids know about him, just because they’ve heard about his success, but he’s not going to be the first to tell you about it.”
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.
“He is the ultimate competitor in that as a golfer, he doesn’t care much about mechanics,” Doar said. “He basically worries about getting the ball in the hole, he’s more of a see ball, hit ball in the hole kind of guy. He is unfazed by bigger, older kids. He’s been winning tournaments for a few years now and he’s literally half the size of his competitors. He’s got a natural ability with the golf club in his hand. He’s a golf junkie, he’s all about it.”
Golf didn’t 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’s become so obsessed with.
“What I’ve been so impressed with is, he competes nationally against kids who have 12-month seasons,” Doar said. “Last winter, he won a tournament at Doral (Florida) against an international field and here’s 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’s almost perfect for him because he keeps things pretty simple.”
Broderick’s high school coach is quick to point out that he has little influence on the teen’s game, but he’s been excited to see Broderick’s game grow over the years. Looking forward, he believes the Belmont Hill junior has no ceiling.
“I would like to say that he’s going to be a force in New England amateur golf for the next few years, and I do think he will be,” Doar said. “But I almost hope that he’s 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.
“I 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’ll be a little fresher. If I’m being truthful, the sky’s the limit for him.”
