May 30, 2025 • 6 mins
Cooper Moore's clawed his way from five shots back to claim victory at a prestigious junior golf event in Hong Kong.
He's been crowned the Asia-Pacific boys champion after making four back nine birdies to finish two clear of the field at nine-under-par.
The 16-year-old Cantabrian had to navigate a half-hour mid-round weather delay.
He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his win and his continued rise through the ranks of amateur golf.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, the victories keep coming for Christ Churches. Cooper more Wow,
Overnight we heard that he won the Asia Pacific Golf
Confederation's Junior Championship. Now this is in Hong Kong, and
the degree of difficulty for the sixteen year old stunning
come from behind successes. With nine holes remaining, he was
(00:20):
five strokes off the pace and you took the title. Cooper,
thanks for joining us on the All Sport Breakfast.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, thank you for having me so talk to.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Us about those holes, those nine holes remaining.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, it was. I guess I had a about thirty
minute delay on the ninth t and I guess made
bog up nine to find myself five shots back it
stand on tenth tee, and I just was trying to
be as patient as possible with the bad where they're
come through as the lack. If I can be patient,
maybe make a few birdies when I can, and hopefully
those other guys struggle a little bit, I may find
myself in contention. Come to eighteenth t you've finished.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Not only in contention, you won it two shots clear
of the field.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, it was. He is pretty pretty special. Actually, I
guess I made birdies on I made birdies on seventeen
eighteen and the guys I was playing with both bogie seventeen,
so there was a two shot swing right there and
that sort of gave me the momentum and I had
a great shot to eighteen to about four feet and
hold the butt to win by two c year. It
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It is the down pause. Then it obviously affected the
greens and the fairways. Have they been the worst conditions
you've played in?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, it would definitely be up there. It was just
it was heavy, heavy rain, but wasn't for long though,
so I guess we had probably about forty five minutes
from probably about the eighth tea to I guess I
finished the eighth and then we had eighth hold and
then we had about thirty minute delay on the ninth tea.
So it was pretty heavy and yeah, of course got
the course as you drained pretty quickly, but I guess
(01:47):
that's sort of just the heat thing over there, and
it came out real muggy and hot for probably about
an hour before it started raining again.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
All Right, gosh, so much to contend with. And I
think what we all marvel on for you is your
ability to take away strip away all the emotion of
what could be happening around you and just produce the
really fantastic golfing skills that you've got.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, yeah, yeah, I just tried didn't really try to
do too much over those last nine holes. I knew
that there was birdies out there, so I just tried
to have as least mountain shots as possible, but just
trying to keep pretty basic.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Well basic it is. I mean, you go on to
your player profile and you know all these magnificent results
that you've had, your growth through those three years, how
can you put those into words?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
For me? Over those three years, I've got bigger and
son hit the bull further. So I always knew I
was decent at the game, but it was just a
matter of time before I guess all the results started coming.
And I've came pretty fast over the last six months,
just in the ball further, my putting. I've always shruggled
with putting, growing up and slowly getting better, and yeah,
it sudden to show, I, yes, under the au stretched
(02:54):
just our whole few good like five footers over those
last five holes. So yeah, it was quite nice seeing
that improvement, I guess.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Absolutely, And look just talking about some of those wonderful wins.
You look at the Australian Boys Amateur, you look at
the Kenterby stroke Play, you look at the New Zealand
Amateur Championship. Is there one title that is more meaningful
to you than any of the others?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Nah? Not really, It's quite hard to choose one, I yess,
but yeah, they're all fairly similar. Like this one's pretty cool.
I guess it's been over in Hong Kong. It's international field,
so yeah, that's pretty cool. But then I guess winning
New Zealand Amateurs also, that's probably still the favorite so far.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I thought it might have been as well. So you know,
you're still an amateur, like you can't take any money? Yes, well,
who pays for you to fly around the world?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
So yeah, I get some great support from Golf New Zealand,
so like this trip I've just been on just being
all covered by Golf New Zealand. So yeah, and then
I got a few people out at home Club clear
Water that also help out a little bit with financial support.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So yeah, this title will bring them a lot of joy,
won't it.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yes, yeah, that's for sure. It's just this a handful
of guys out there that chippin So.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, oh how wonderful. And so what's next for you?
Where do you go to?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I have Junior World Cup in Japan in about two
and a half week's time. It's pretty busy, so that's
a three man team for that. So yeah, there's boys
and girls team going over for that, so they should
be pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Oh sorry, I was just going to ask you, I
have to play as a team or do you play
as individuals?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We play as individuals, but the best two out of
three scores count each day towards the team's title.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Right, okay, sorry interrupted you. So you fly over which
part of Japan into Nagoya.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So I go Nagoya for about I think just under
two weeks. I think it's about ten days, and then
I come back for about a week and then I
get ready to go to America for the Uwish Junior Amateur.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So win's that.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
It's about July the tenth. I think memory.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Diary also, And I guess Mike Taylor will be wondering
whether you're going to be part of his Canterbury team
at the end of Provincials.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yes, I will if I make the team. I'll be there.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I think you'll make the team. You re number one
last year, weren't you. Yes, Oh, look, it's just truly wonderful.
And I know that you've just landed back in Auckland.
You haven't even made it back to christ It yet.
But you must have got on a flight almost straight away,
did you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, it was pretty much straight away. We after straight
after the prize giving, you said, we were straight on
a bus to the airport.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
So what do you get? Do you get a trophy
to bring back?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yes, yep, so I got it. Like it. It's a
little bit of a like plate kind of trophy with
I guess all of the engraved I used to torn
and them where it was held and stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So yeah, and have you got a room for them
at your house?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Just my bedroom at the moment, but it's starting to
get a little bit full with stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I was going to say it would be a bit
cluttered at the moment. Yeah, oh look long may that last?
Cooper more. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I think that's about it. And no injuries, no, no,
none so far?
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Good man well fit and well that's fantastic and thank you.
Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
To talk to us and no, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Congratulations again. Once again, we're in aree of you.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Sweet Thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
For more from News Talk sed B. Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Well, the victories keep coming for Christ Churches. Cooper more Wow,
Overnight we heard that he won the Asia Pacific Golf
Confederation's Junior Championship. Now this is in Hong Kong, and
the degree of difficulty for the sixteen year old stunning
come from behind successes. With nine holes remaining, he was
(00:20):
five strokes off the pace and you took the title. Cooper,
thanks for joining us on the All Sport Breakfast.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, thank you for having me so talk to.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Us about those holes, those nine holes remaining.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, it was. I guess I had a about thirty
minute delay on the ninth t and I guess made
bog up nine to find myself five shots back it
stand on tenth tee, and I just was trying to
be as patient as possible with the bad where they're
come through as the lack. If I can be patient,
maybe make a few birdies when I can, and hopefully
those other guys struggle a little bit, I may find
myself in contention. Come to eighteenth t you've finished.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Not only in contention, you won it two shots clear
of the field.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, it was. He is pretty pretty special. Actually, I
guess I made birdies on I made birdies on seventeen
eighteen and the guys I was playing with both bogie seventeen,
so there was a two shot swing right there and
that sort of gave me the momentum and I had
a great shot to eighteen to about four feet and
hold the butt to win by two c year. It
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It is the down pause. Then it obviously affected the
greens and the fairways. Have they been the worst conditions
you've played in?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, it would definitely be up there. It was just
it was heavy, heavy rain, but wasn't for long though,
so I guess we had probably about forty five minutes
from probably about the eighth tea to I guess I
finished the eighth and then we had eighth hold and
then we had about thirty minute delay on the ninth tea.
So it was pretty heavy and yeah, of course got
the course as you drained pretty quickly, but I guess
(01:47):
that's sort of just the heat thing over there, and
it came out real muggy and hot for probably about
an hour before it started raining again.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
All Right, gosh, so much to contend with. And I
think what we all marvel on for you is your
ability to take away strip away all the emotion of
what could be happening around you and just produce the
really fantastic golfing skills that you've got.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, yeah, yeah, I just tried didn't really try to
do too much over those last nine holes. I knew
that there was birdies out there, so I just tried
to have as least mountain shots as possible, but just
trying to keep pretty basic.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Well basic it is. I mean, you go on to
your player profile and you know all these magnificent results
that you've had, your growth through those three years, how
can you put those into words?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
For me? Over those three years, I've got bigger and
son hit the bull further. So I always knew I
was decent at the game, but it was just a
matter of time before I guess all the results started coming.
And I've came pretty fast over the last six months,
just in the ball further, my putting. I've always shruggled
with putting, growing up and slowly getting better, and yeah,
it sudden to show, I, yes, under the au stretched
(02:54):
just our whole few good like five footers over those
last five holes. So yeah, it was quite nice seeing
that improvement, I guess.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Absolutely, And look just talking about some of those wonderful wins.
You look at the Australian Boys Amateur, you look at
the Kenterby stroke Play, you look at the New Zealand
Amateur Championship. Is there one title that is more meaningful
to you than any of the others?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Nah? Not really, It's quite hard to choose one, I yess,
but yeah, they're all fairly similar. Like this one's pretty cool.
I guess it's been over in Hong Kong. It's international field,
so yeah, that's pretty cool. But then I guess winning
New Zealand Amateurs also, that's probably still the favorite so far.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I thought it might have been as well. So you know,
you're still an amateur, like you can't take any money? Yes, well,
who pays for you to fly around the world?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
So yeah, I get some great support from Golf New Zealand,
so like this trip I've just been on just being
all covered by Golf New Zealand. So yeah, and then
I got a few people out at home Club clear
Water that also help out a little bit with financial support.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So yeah, this title will bring them a lot of joy,
won't it.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yes, yeah, that's for sure. It's just this a handful
of guys out there that chippin So.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, oh how wonderful. And so what's next for you?
Where do you go to?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I have Junior World Cup in Japan in about two
and a half week's time. It's pretty busy, so that's
a three man team for that. So yeah, there's boys
and girls team going over for that, so they should
be pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Oh sorry, I was just going to ask you, I
have to play as a team or do you play
as individuals?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We play as individuals, but the best two out of
three scores count each day towards the team's title.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Right, okay, sorry interrupted you. So you fly over which
part of Japan into Nagoya.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So I go Nagoya for about I think just under
two weeks. I think it's about ten days, and then
I come back for about a week and then I
get ready to go to America for the Uwish Junior Amateur.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So win's that.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
It's about July the tenth. I think memory.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Diary also, And I guess Mike Taylor will be wondering
whether you're going to be part of his Canterbury team
at the end of Provincials.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yes, I will if I make the team. I'll be there.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I think you'll make the team. You re number one
last year, weren't you. Yes, Oh, look, it's just truly wonderful.
And I know that you've just landed back in Auckland.
You haven't even made it back to christ It yet.
But you must have got on a flight almost straight away,
did you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, it was pretty much straight away. We after straight
after the prize giving, you said, we were straight on
a bus to the airport.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
So what do you get? Do you get a trophy
to bring back?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yes, yep, so I got it. Like it. It's a
little bit of a like plate kind of trophy with
I guess all of the engraved I used to torn
and them where it was held and stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So yeah, and have you got a room for them
at your house?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Just my bedroom at the moment, but it's starting to
get a little bit full with stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I was going to say it would be a bit
cluttered at the moment. Yeah, oh look long may that last?
Cooper more. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I think that's about it. And no injuries, no, no,
none so far?
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Good man well fit and well that's fantastic and thank you.
Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
To talk to us and no, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Congratulations again. Once again, we're in aree of you.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Sweet Thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
For more from News Talk sed B. Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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