New Zealand’s Cooper Moore claims Australian Junior title

Cooper Moore – file image courtesy PGA of Australia

Christchurch golfer and exciting future prospect for New Zealand golf, Cooper Moore, has today won the Australian Junior Title, Moore holing a bunker shot at the third extra hole of a playoff against Dubbo’s Cooper Giddings at the Indooroopilly Golf Club in Brisbane to add this title to his recent success at the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

Moore began the final round six shots adrift of Brisbane’s Chase Oberle, but a homeward nine of 33 saw him force a playoff against Gidding’s whose brilliant final round of 65 saw him set the mark for Moore who was playing more than 30 minutes behind.

Giddings had played the final three holes in four under par for his final nine of 30 but when Moore played the final nine in 33 himself the pair were tied at 5 under.

Moore has been in excellent form of late, finishing runner-up in Charles Tour events in New Zealand in addition to his New Zealand Amateur Championship win and finishing as the leading Australasian at the prestigious Asia Pacific Amateur Championship late in 2024.

The victory this week should assure the 16-year-old from the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch of a start at the Australian Open, and so the opportunities continue to open for the exciting youngster.