The O’Neal School’s Jack Halloran, class of 2026, claimed a memorable victory at the 14th Webb Simpson Challenge last weekend, held at the challenging Pine Needles and Mid Pines golf resort in Southern Pines. Halloran’s win not only secured the prestigious Webb Simpson title but also marked a remarkable sixth triumph of the year.
The Webb Simpson Challenge is a tournament consisting of 18 holes on Saturday at Mid Pines and 18 holes on Sunday at Pine Needles. The event, renowned for attracting top talent in boys junior golf, proved to be the perfect stage for Halloran.
Throughout the tournament, Halloran’s performance showcased a blend of strength, precision, skill, and strategic prowess. Negotiating the intricacies and challenges of major championship-level courses, Halloran needed a par on the last hole to win the tournament and finished with a courageous up and down on the 18th hole to secure the win. Halloran finished with rounds of 72 and 71 to win by one shot from Aiden Clark and two shots from Reece Sanders.
Halloran’s growing reputation sees him climb to the 48th-ranked junior golfer in North Carolina. This victory is just one chapter in Halloran’s extraordinary year, where he has amassed an impressive total of six wins. Beyond the victories, Halloran’s golfing acumen is further underscored by the additional four top-10 finishes, solidifying his status as a consistent performer in highly competitive fields. He adds to a remarkable list of accomplishments during his time as an O’Neal varsity golfer. He has been a three-time All-Conference recipient, a two-time “Conference Player of the Year” recipient, and an NCISAA All-State recipient.
Halloran was very pleased with his victory. “This was one of the best performances of my career. It’s a fun event, and I am really excited to have won it. I was pleased with my driving, but it was my short game that really came through for me. I think I got up and down five times on the last five holes, which was really satisfying.”
Athletic Director James Franklin also commented on Halloran’s success, “Jack has an unrivaled skill of embracing pressure. His technique and mental game really shine through during the moments when they could just as easily be threatened. He has worked incredibly hard in all areas of his game and paired this with a special mental prowess. His success comes as a result of this.”
Halloran will quickly return to action by testing himself at the Carolina PGA Junior Championship event at the Surf Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach, Dec. 9-10. Following the Carolina PGA Junior Championship, Halloran is set to participate in the Donald Ross Junior Championship from Dec. 27-30 to close out the year.
Adding another dimension to his already illustrious year, Halloran’s journey from the 14th Webb Simpson Challenge to the upcoming Carolina PGA event and Donald Ross Junior Championship is a testament to his dedication, talent, and unyielding pursuit of excellence on the golf course. As he continues to leave an indelible mark on the Carolina junior golfing landscape, the golfing community eagerly anticipates the next chapters of Halloran’s growth.
O’Neal is a part of the Sandhills Athletic Conference (SAC) and is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Wells Fargo Cup, recognizing O’Neal for having the top athletics program among Division 2 independent schools.
Feature photo: Jack Halloran Wins Web Simpson Challenge/Courtesy photo.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel contributor James Franklin, O’Neal Director of Athletics.
