Cooper Moore captured the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Championship Boys title at Hong Kong Golf Club in dramatic fashion, overcoming both challenging weather conditions and a competitive field.
The 16-year-old secured victory by two strokes, finishing ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Tuan Anh in second place and Thailand’s Parin Sarasmut in third. Moore’s triumph was sealed with crucial birdies on the tournament’s final two holes.
Weather played a significant role in the championship’s conclusion, with a 30-minute rain delay on the final day creating puddles across the greens and fairways. Despite these difficult conditions, Moore maintained his composure and focus.
The victory required considerable mental resilience from Moore, who had surrendered the tournament lead during the second round after recording a double-bogey six on the 18th hole when his drive found trouble out of bounds. His challenges continued in the third round with missed birdie opportunities early on and a devastating triple-bogey on the fourth hole.
At the turn, Moore found himself trailing by five strokes but refused to concede defeat.
“I felt I still had a chance and needed to be patient,” Moore reflected on his mindset during the crucial moments.
His patience proved rewarded as he delivered a flawless back nine performance. Moore avoided any bogeys while carding four birdies, including the pivotal birdies on holes 17 and 18 that clinched the championship as rain began falling on Hong Kong Golf Club’s Old Course.
The victory represents another significant milestone in Moore’s developing golf career, showcasing both his technical ability and mental fortitude under pressure.
Moore is also one of six of the country’s best young golfers to have been named to represent New Zealand at the 2025 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan.
