Tag: Haley Moore

Madelene Sagstrom looking for back-to-back wins at ISPS Handa Vic Open

Madelene Sagstrom kept her lead at the ISPS Handa Vic Open after shooting a second-round 67 on the Beach Course at 13th Beach Golf Links.

Madelene Sagstrom is itching for back-to-back wins.

The 27-year-old Swede followed an opening-round 65 at the ISPS Handa Vic Open with a 5-under 67 Friday on the Beach Course at 13th Beach Golf Links in Victoria, Australia. Sagstrom finished the second round with seven birdies.

Sagstrom, who won her first LPGA title at the Gainbridge LPGA in Boca Rio, Florida, two weeks ago, holds a one-shot lead at 13 under over Ally McDonald through 36 holes.

When asked what she attributes to her success over the past two weeks, Sagstrom said it all has to do with patience.

“I know there’s good golf in my system right now obviously from having good form but I think just taking one shot at a time, really committing to everything and then, I know I’m striking it well when I kind of get out of that worry zone and just go for it. That’s why I’m playing really well,” Sagstrom said.

After playing both the Beach and Creek Courses, Sagstrom’s next challenge will be the wind forecast over the weekend.

“I’m a pretty good wind player. I’m not sure about how much wind because I think it’s supposed to get pretty windy,” Sagstrom said. “I think the next two days is all about patience and just really trust that you counted it right and just know that if you have a longer club in your hands, you got to be soft with it.”

Robyn Choi, Ayean Cho and Linnea Strom sit three strokes behind Sagstrom at 10 under.

Rookie Haley Moore, who impressed with a 66 on Thursday, shot a 71 to sit T-11 at 8 under. Moore was T-3 after the first round.

Reigning champion Celine Boutier did not make the cut after shooting consecutive rounds of 72 and finishing at 1 under. Other notable players to miss the cut were Cristie Kerr, Na Yeon Choi and Patty Tavatanakit.

In the tournament that also feature male pros playing in alternate groups over two courses, Robin Sciot-Siegrist shot a bogey-free 64 to take a two-shot lead over Travis Smyth.

Sagstrom tees off her third round from the Beach Course’s first tee Saturday at 1:40 p.m. local time, Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET, alongside Cho and Strom.

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Haley Moore cards 66 in first professional round at ISPS Handa Vic Open

Haley Moore carded a 66 during her first professional round at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Victoria, Australia.

In her first professional event, rookie Haley Moore came out focused in Victoria, Australia.

Moore, who was one of 19 rookies to earn her LPGA card in November, shot an opening-round 7-under 66 on the Creek Course at 13th Beach Golf Links to take a share of third at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.

Moore sits tied with Peiyun Chien and Linnea Strom at 7 under, one stroke behind leaders Madelene Sagstrom and Haeji Kang.

“I was just trying to stick with my game plan all day and not worry about looking at a scoreboard and seeing where it was,” Moore said of her round Thursday in an interview with Golf Australia. “I was just being like everything’s going my way and just keep putting the pedal down and just keep doing this tomorrow and the next days will be good.”

Moore will play the Beach Course for Friday’s second round, but switching courses isn’t of concern. Her impressive first round of five birdies and an eagle on 18 gives her confidence.

“It’s definitely motivating as this course, the Beach Course, is a little tougher out there and when I played it was super windy, so I know that when it is windy out there it does play tough,” Moore said. “So just kind of really stick with my game plan, my caddie and I, and just go attack pins that are attackable and just play safe when I need to.”

Moore will tee off her second round alongside Stephanie Na and Cheyenne Woods from the Beach Course’s first tee Friday at 1:10 p.m. local time, Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

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Haley Moore’s LPGA dream begins in Australia, a world away but surrounded by friends

Haley Moore, 21, will begin her 2020 LPGA season roughly 8,000 miles away and 19 hours ahead of those she loves.

Haley Moore planned to leave her home in Escondido, California, around 5:30 p.m. last Friday to catch a redeye out of LAX. To make her LPGA debut, Moore traveled solo on a 16-hour direct flight to Melbourne and then caught a shuttle to 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads, Victoria.

“She’s not going to drive,” said Haley’s mother, Michele. “She’s petrified.”

And who can blame her? There’s enough for a rookie to worry about without having to drive on the other side of the road.

Haley, 21, will begin her 2020 LPGA season roughly 8,000 miles away and 19 hours ahead of those she loves. But while she won’t have an entourage, Moore will have some familiar faces in the crowd at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. For two years she competed in the Australian Master of the Amateurs event and her host family, the Sephtons, hope to make the drive over from Melbourne for Thursday’s round.

The third LPGA event of 2020 will feature a second round of rookies making their first appearance. In addition to Moore, newbies Andrea Lee, Jiwon Jeon, Maia Schechter, Matilda Castren and Linnea Johansson are also in the field. Eight rookies played in the new Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.

The Vic Open is unlike any other event on tour in that men are in the field competing on the same course for equal prize money. Last year marked the first year the tournament was sanctioned by both the LPGA and European Tour. The LPGA purse remains small at $1.1 million, but it’s a blockbuster of a concept. The field on the women’s side is much stronger this year, with major winners Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr, Jiyai Shin, So Yeon Ryu, Laura Davies and Hannah Green joining Australia’s most decorated player, Karrie Webb.

“They don’t have any ropes,” Haley said of the tournament’s unique atmosphere. “Spectators can stand right behind you.”

It will be an intimate feel for Moore, who has been under the bright lights plenty of times. She’s prepared for the entire year to be one giant learning curve and her goals reflect as much.

“Just trying to keep my card,” she said, “keep it in the top 100.”

Last month Moore flew to south Florida for rookie orientation in Boca Raton. She tried to Monday qualify for Boca Rio but came up short. She’s excited about her rookie pod, which includes Andrea Lee, Esther Lee and Kyung Kim. Each pod is assigned an LPGA staff member and veteran pro. Haley drew Morgan Pressel, who has already sent a welcome note to the team.

Moore signed with PXG over the offseason and has the logos of her alma mater, Arizona, and the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, where the members threw her party after Q-Series, on her bag.

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Pauma Valley Country Club made Haley an honorary member after she earned her card. She’s also been doing her homework at Aviara Golf Club, site of the upcoming Kia Classic. It’s 25 minutes down the road, so she hopes to take advantage of the home turf.

Christina Kim helped Haley secure an Aussie caddie for the Vic Open. She’s currently the second alternate for the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and will most likely have to play in the Tuesday qualifier. The top three finishers from the qualifier will get into the Australian Open. After that, the original alternate list will be dissolved and the field will be filled based on qualifying results. There’s also a spot left open for the winner of the Vic Open.

Haley has a flight booked to Adelaide for next Monday but no hotel. She’ll have a host family at the Vic Open, and they have offered to show her around.

“Right now, she’s got so many unknowns,” said Michele. “That’s probably my biggest concern.”

The Moores bought planners and a white board for Christmas. The board is color-coded and hangs in Michele’s office. With a son, Tyler, who’s a senior on the golf team at UC-Riverside, there’s a lot to keep up with, including Michele’s paid-time off.

“I’m definitely nervous,” said Haley, “just because my first tournament is pretty far away.”

A faraway dream that’s finally within reach.

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Nichols: These inspiring stories stick out from the last decade of covering golf

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols details her top five storylines from the past decade, ranging from amateurs to a Hall of Famer.

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Some stories stick with you, both as a reader and a writer. When I sat down to make a list of my top five story lines from the past decade, the process took all of one minute. I sat there longer, of course, jotting down all other ones that came to mind. But the top five didn’t change.

What do those five stories have in common?

Inspiration.

The athletes highlighted in these memorable stories range from major winners to amateurs to soon-to-be rookies. Even a Hall of Famer.

All proved unforgettable. 

Lorena Ochoa retires from the LPGA on top of the world

My editor flew me down to Mexico when Lorena Ochoa announced her abrupt retirement in 2010. But he didn’t just send me to Mexico City, where she held her press conference. I also traveled to Guadalajara, where her father opened up the doors to her childhood home and lifelong friends and mentors sat down at the clubhouse patio to shed light on one of the most beloved figures in the game. But when I met Angelita at the 10th-hole snack bar, I knew exactly where this story had to begin.

More: Ochoa ends LPGA career on top, shifts gears to family

Cameron Champ’s stellar U.S. Open start brings family joy

It was Friday at the 2017 U.S. Open and amateur Cameron Champ was racing up the leaderboard. I caught up with his father on the 17th hole at Erin Hills and introduced myself. Thank goodness the final hole is a par 5, because I needed every inch of that long walk to the clubhouse to get the foundation of Champ’s story and his grandfather’s phone number.

I’ll never forget walking to the back of the media tent where it was quiet and sitting down on the steps to call Mack Champ. He was hooked up to a dialysis machine back home in California when I called and didn’t realize that his grandson was two shots off the lead at a major. I can still hear his heaving sobs of joy. So beautiful.

More: Champ’s stellar U.S. Open start brings family joy

Stacy Lewis gives away winner’s check to Houston

I was out of the country celebrating a friend’s milestone birthday the day Stacy Lewis won in Portland. I woke up in the middle of the night to a text from my husband that Lewis had given us one of those “this is why we love sports” moments. We somehow knew this would happen.

Even with all of her onsite obligations, she took my FaceTime call and reflected on what it meant to win for Houston. It’s a day I’ll never forget. I pulled an all-nighter and then went paragliding over Lake Como for my friend’s 40th the next morning. No doubt Lewis was flying higher!

More: Lewis earns emotional win for Houston: ‘I knew what it meant’

Haley Moore emerges as hero of NCAA final

While standing on the 18th green after Haley Moore sank the winning putt for Arizona, I turned to her mother, Michele, and asked if kids had been mean to her daughter growing up. Michele didn’t hesitate in answering. In May of 2018, I wasn’t quite sure how to ask that question. Now, Haley talks with ease about using her experience of being bullied as a platform to help young kids.

My heart gets full every time I think about it.

More: Moore emerges as hero at NCAA final

A dream duel at Augusta National

Tiger Woods won on Sunday at Augusta National in 2019. But if you had been there the week before, you would’ve already felt chills coming up the 18th. Walking onto the grounds of Augusta National and seeing nothing but women line the range and putting green was nothing short of surreal. That Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi put on a show for the ages at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur made a day that many gave up on long ago all the more spectacular. Decades from now we’ll look back on it as a watershed moment in women’s golf.

More: Kupcho outlasts Fassi to win inaugural ANWA

And if I had to pick a sixth …

I remember pulling into the course in Rochester, New York, like it was yesterday and seeing Meredith Duncan walk toward my car with an armful of trial-sized toiletries. I rolled down the window to say hello and inquire about her load. Thus began one of the most authentic interviews I’ve ever had about life on tour. (I did manage to park my car before returning to talk to her on the range.)

More: Meredith Duncan reveals a side of the tour most don’t see

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