MALVERN, Pa. — Brad McDermott’s last name carries considerable weight in Philadelphia golf circles. His father, Michael, was GAP’s most decorated and dominant player at the turn of the century. Brad’s resume is still under construction, but the foundation is taking shape. Tuesday added a significant building block for the future Bucknell University Bison.
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McDermott advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 112th Junior Boys’ Championship at Chester Valley Golf Club with an impressive, 4&3, victory over co-medalist Colby Komancheck of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve.
Matches begin at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. The semifinals will follow.
In his final year of Junior eligibility, McDermott registered his greatest GAP success in the Association’s most historic junior championship.
In fact, it marked the first time McDermott, the No. 11 seed, advanced to the Championship Flight.
Two years ago at The Ridge at Back Brook, McDermott earned a spot in the First Flight, winning a match before being eliminated. That was the only time he moved on from Stroke-Play Qualifying.
Last year, at his home club, Merion Golf Club, he narrowly fell in a qualifying playoff.
“I’m really big on not really paying attention to what other people think of me,” said Brad, 18, of Wayne, Pa., when asked about others comparing his game to his dad’s. “I stay in my own lane and do what I can do.”
McDermott’s shown some flashes. Last fall, in the Llanerch High School Invitational at Llanerch Country Club, he took the Individual Boys’ title. His Radnor High School squad won the Team title.
His 2026 junior campaign is starting on a good path.
Earlier Tuesday morning, in a steady downpour, McDermott parred the second hole to advance into match play from a seven-for-five playoff. He carded a 4-over-par 74 in Stroke-Play Qualifying. Monday’s weather delayed the conclusion of Stroke-Play Qualifying until this morning.
Truth be told, he did use a little fatherly advice prior.
“I was hitting it really badly two days ago. I was on the range with my dad and he told me to just go home and wake up tomorrow and try to forget all of this and reset. I was shanking it,” said McDermott. “[Today], I decided to just play my draw. I didn’t hit many super far off line. My putter was really good on the front nine.”
McDermott made four birdies on the front to build a 3-up advantage after nine holes. The highlight coming on Nos. 6-7. On No. 6 (par 4, 418 yards), he dropped a 7-iron from 185 yards to three feet. He followed up on No. 7 (par 3, 197 yards), draining a 15-foot slider. Komancheck won Nos. 9 and 11 to get it to 2-down before McDermott sealed his fate on No. 12 (par 4, 422 yards) with a gap wedge from 144 yards to a foot and a half.
“That was big to get the momentum back,” said McDermott, a recent Radnor High School graduate. “Colby and I are very friendly and have played together a bunch. I drove him to Pittsburgh last year for an AJGA event.”
McDermott landed at Bucknell because it had everything he wants: a top business school in the Northeast with golf course access.
“My dad and I were going through the past champions and runner-ups last night,” said McDermott.
Dad is not on the list. Could the son be?
McDermott’s fellow clubmates were finalists a year ago. Sean Curran defeated Nicky Nemo in 19 holes on Merion’s West Course.
Wednesday they will face off in a Quarterfinal contest.
Curran, the No. 1 seed by virtue of last year’s victory, defeated 16-seed Keller Tannehill of Atlantic City Country Club, 5&3. Nemo, the No. 8 seed, edged ninth-seeded Liam Crowley of Aronimink Golf Club, 1-up.
Curran had a case of the rights with his tee shots early against Tannehill. He registered back-to-back Xs on Nos. 3-4 hitting four tee shots out-of-bounds.
However, Curran, 18, of Newtown Square, Pa. eventually found his level. He noted the other parts of his game were good and said he closed his club face and shortened his swing with longer tee shots. Curran heads to the University of Pennsylvania for golf in the fall.
Nemo, 18, of Bryn Mawr, Pa. defeated Crowley, 1-up.
“I’m hungry,” said Nemo, laughing about the rematch.
Championship Flight
Round of 16
1. Sean Curran, Merion Golf Club, d. 16. Keller Tannehill, Atlantic City Country Club, 5&3; 8. Nicky Nemo, Merion Golf Club, d. 9. Liam Crowley, Aronimink Golf Club, 1-up; 4. Jackson Lane, Riverton Country Club, d. 13. Quinn Gallagher, McCall Golf Club, 2&1; 12. Seiji Sako, McCall Golf Club, d. 5. Ty Sheftic, Blue Bell Country Club, 6&4; 15. Brad McDermott, Merion Golf Club, d. 2. Colby Komancheck, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, 4&3; 10. Liam Littleton, Sunnybrook Golf Club, d. 7. Harry Neilly, Philadelphia Country Club, 4&3; 3. Luca Kleinschmidt, The Springhaven Club, d. 14. Nathan Goblirsch, GAP Youth on Course, 8&6; 11. Paul Reilly, Galloway National Golf Club, d. 6. Liam Gill, Fox Hill Country Club, 19 holes.
First Flight
16. Logan Cassidy, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, d. 1. Michael O’Kane, USGA/GAP GC, 3&2; 8. Brady Wager, Mountain View Country Club, d. 9. Gavin Reger, Waynesborough Country Club, 6&4; 4. Lannon Boyd, Overbrook Golf Club, d. 13. Benjamin Robbins, Philmont Country Club, 1-up; 5. Connor Smolenski, Wilmington Country Club, d. 12. Jesse Shurman, Philadelphia Country Club, 1-up; 2. Grant Burkhart, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, d. 15. William Simonson, Tavistock Country Club, 8&7; 10. Quinn Marshall, DuPont Country Club, d. 7. Bobby Stott, Country Club of Scranton, 5&4; 3. Luke McGraw, USGA/GAP GC, d. 14. Landon Finsen, Burlington Country Club, 19 holes; 11. Ian Larsen, Honeybrook Golf Club, d. 6. Frank Kunze, GAP Youth of Course, 20 holes.
Junior Boys’ Championship
The Junior Boys’ Championship is the premier Major in the GAP Junior Division. Originally known as the Junior Golf Championship of Philadelphia, the event was conceived by Robert Lesley, the longest tenured president in GAP history (1906-24). It is open to members of a GAP Member Club 14-18 years of age who have not started their college education and who hold a handicap index of 14.4 or lower. Sixteen players qualify for match play; an additional 16 advance into the event’s First Flight.
The Junior Boys’ Champion is awarded the Peg Burnett Trophy, named in honor of the organization’s beloved Executive Secretary from 1951-76. Burnett was an ardent junior golf supporter who emphasized sportsmanship and respect for the game. “I was very strict about checking the rule book. I didn’t make the rules, but since they are there, you have to abide by them.” Dalton Balthaser profiled Burnett in the Summer 2024 edition of GAP Magazine.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 140,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
