Moore Takes Less Strokes Than Anyone, Wins Cup
Photo by jhaveMoore, from Raritan, New Jersey, fired rounds of 71-67 for a 138 total that set a new tournament record for lowest 36-hole score. His final round 67 bettered his age by one and also established a new 18-hole record. He earned $2,600 for his efforts.
Jim Perez from Fresno, California, won the Senior division with scores of 74-71 – 145 and finished second overall. Mark Harman won the Open division and finished third overall with 74-73 – 147. 2004 US Cup champion David Belling finished fourth at 78-71 – 149, while newcomers Mike Henry and Robert Green finished fifth, both with 76-74 – 150. Melody Robinson captured the Ladies title in her first attempt with 84-80 – 164.
For Moore, it seemed like a question of not if, but when, he would finally take the overall title. Coming in as the two-time defending Senior division champion, and winner of four consecutive division titles, Moore ran that streak to five by also winning this year’s Super Senior championship. He has also twice played for Team USA at the World Golf Teachers Cup, in 2003 and 2007.
Formerly a high school football coach in New Jersey, Moore is used to winning. His teams at Elizabeth High School and Somerville High School won 11 state championships, and Moore is known as a legend in New Jersey coaching circles. He had numerous players receive scholarships to play major college football.
“I’ve been a competitor all my life,” said Moore, “and I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by good players and good situations.” Not only did Moore find great success in coaching football, he also coached other sports, including in his home state of West Virginia. Currently, Moore teaches golf in the summer and spends his winters in Florida. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
He owes his longevity and prowess in golf to “working out every day and trying to stay as young as I can for as long as I can.” He called his time in Albuquerque as “the best week of my life.” Regarding the USGTF, he said, “My association with the USGTF has been nothing but positive. I’ve met a lot of great people.”
For Perez, this year’s US Cup also culminated a long journey to capture a title. He was runner-up for the overall and Open division title in 2002, and last year finished as runner-up in the Senior division. Like Moore, Perez also gets better with age as his game continues to improve.
Harman, a five-time winner of the US Cup, could not match the pace set by Moore or Perez, but did come home with his sixth Open division championship. Belling fired the low round in the Open division with a second-round 71, but could not overcome his opening 78.
The weather for both days of the championship was sunny and warm. Moore took the first day’s lead with a 71, followed by Daniel Jarvie and Bruce Sims at 72, and Perez and Harman with 74. Jarvie was in contention the final day when, on the ninth hole, he took a drop for an unplayable lie, ultimately taking a triple-bogey 7. Several holes later, Jarvie disqualified himself from the tournament, saying that he was bothered that he might have taken an improper drop on the ninth. Certainly, such sportsmanship cannot go unnoted.
Sims dropped back with a second round 80 but still finished second in the Senior division. Perez and the others were simply unable to match Moore’s torrid pace at any time during the final round.
“Even though this was the United States Golf Teachers Cup, it was nice to see teachers from over a dozen nations in attendance,” said USGTF president Geoff Bryant. “I always look forward to this tournament, because it brings together teaching professionals from all over the world with a common interest, and certainly bonds those that we would never otherwise have had an opportunity to meet.”
The location of the 14th annual United States Golf Teachers Cup will be announced in the next edition of Golf Teaching Pro.