Cooper Moore out of US Junior but not without a fight
Cooper Moore during today’s matches – image USGA
New Zealand’s Cooper Moore added to what has been a stunning week for New Zealand golf, making it to the semi-finals of the US Junior Championship in Pennsylvania before being beaten in a very tight encounter against American Noah Maclauhlan.
Earlier in the day, Moore had defeated his fellow New Zealander Ryan Xie in the quarter-final, leading all the way after a birdie at the first hole before holding off a determined Xie to win 2&1.
In the afternoon semi-final, Moore was always behind in his match against Virginian Maclauhlan, who, with five birdies in his first eight holes, led 3 up at the turn. Then came the fightback by the Christchurch golfer.
Moore birdied the 10th and 11th holes to trail by just one through 11 holes, but a birdie at the par 3 14th by Maclauhlan would prove pivotal as it left him 2 up with four to play. Although Moore reduced the margin to just one with two to play when Maclauchlan found the hazard at the 16th, he arrived at the 18th after both had birdied the 17th, needing to win the hole to take things to extra time.
Neither player gave themselves great birdie opportunities at the last and when Maclauchlan holed out from 4 feet for par, his one-up advantage had been maintained, and a place in the finals was his.
It had, however, been a close call for the winner and he knew it.
“Cooper gave a heck of a fight,” said Maclauchlan, who made nine birdies, four pars, four bogeys and a double bogey against Moore. “Gave me a lot of stress on the back nine. He kept on pouring [in] birdies, so we weren’t going to win holes unless the other one wasn’t making birdies.
Moore was understandably disappointed not to have made the final but pleased with the manner in which he played. “When I’ve come over this side (US) before, I’ve struggled with my game and never really competed, so to compete over here is cool, said the 18-year-old. “Yeah, it’s quite nice.”
Moore will play in the International Junior Presidents Cup side later this year.
Cooper Moore and Ryan Xie shake hands after their quarter-final on Friday morning, won by Moore image USGA
