John Moran Won U-20 NXXT Faldo Classic

The Portmarnock native secured victory in a playoff at the IMG Golf Club in Bradenton.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Golf

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John Moran of Portmarnock won the U-20 NXXT Faldo Classic in Bradenton, Florida, after defeating Tony Cho and Lennard Nuetzl in a playoff. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

John Moran clinched the U-20 NXXT Faldo Classic title after finishing at five-under-par. He defeated Tony Cho and Lennard Nuetzl in a playoff to secure the win.

Why it matters

The victory earns Moran 500 points in the season-long standings and a spot in the Faldo Series playoffs. This result marks a significant climb in the rankings for the amateur golfer.

John Moran carded a final round score of 70 to reach his winning total of five-under-par. Eilgin Michael finished in a share of 5th place with a final round score of 76 and a ten-over tournament total.

The players

John Moran

He is an amateur golfer from Portmarnock who is currently ranked 15th in the season-long standings.

Tony Cho

He is an amateur golfer who competed against Moran in the playoff.

Lennard Nuetzl

He is an amateur golfer who competed against Moran in the playoff.

Eilgin Michael

He is an amateur golfer from Dublin who finished in a share of 5th place at the tournament.

The details

Moran forced a playoff by carding a two-under 70 during his final round. He ultimately secured the tournament win by scoring back-to-back birdies during the playoff holes.

Timeline

  1. John Moran won the Faldo Classic on October 13, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This victory significantly bolsters Moran's position in the Faldo Series, moving him into 15th place in the season-long standings. By earning 500 points, he effectively secures his path forward into the upcoming postseason playoffs.

Moran now holds 500 points in the season standings and has officially qualified for the Faldo Series playoffs. His win at the IMG Golf Club serves as a major boost to his World Amateur Golf Ranking standing.

The takeaway

John Moran demonstrated critical composure by recording back-to-back birdies to secure his playoff win. This performance highlights the importance of finishing rounds strongly in high-stakes amateur tournament settings.

Further reading

For more on competitive amateur play, visit Golf.