New Zealanders Xie and Moore to face off in US Junior Quarter Finals
Ryan Xie – during his round of 16 match today – image USGA Ishika Samant
New Zealanders Ryan Xie and Cooper Moore have advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Junior Championship being played at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Auckland’s Xie comfortably won his round of 64 match against China’s Jin Jan on Wednesday, then led all the way in his Thursday morning round of 32 match against Korea’s Minhyeok Yu before a birdie at the 17th saw him win 2&1, and has made it to the quarters with a 4&3 victory over Singaporean Troy Storm.
The journey has not been quite as smooth for Christchurch’s Moore, however. The former New Zealand amateur and Australian Junior Champion, needed 22 holes in his opening match against Canadian Landon Ashcroft before a birdie saw him home, then had an easier time against Korean Geon Kang where he won 4&3, but, in his round of 16 match against Canadian Lawson Dew, he needed to birdie the last to win 1 up.
That’s the good news for both, but unfortunately for one, the journey will end at the quarter-final stage as the pair face each other on Friday morning US time in a bid to reach the semi-finals.
“Yeah, it’ll be good fun,” said Moore referring to the matchup with Xie tomorrow. “Had good battles over the last few years, so, yeah, be nice to have sort of one more before he goes to college. I think he’s won two and I’ve won one, so…”
Xie finished runner-up at the 2026 Australian Junior Amateur while Moore, who won that event in 2025, finished 3rd.
Cooper Moore in action today – image USGA
