Cooper Moore aims to win Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at home

Cooper Moore is attempting to make history at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, a tournament being hosted on New Zealand soil. The event is taking place at Te Arai Links South Course, located north of Auckland.

Moore, an 18-year-old student at St Bede’s College in Canterbury, is currently tied for third on the leaderboard after the first round of play began on Thursday. He is one of four New Zealanders competing in the field, alongside fellow Cantabrians Zackary Swanwick, Yuki Miya, and Zach May.

The golfer has had a busy year on the international circuit. He finished second at the New Zealand PGA Championship and participated in the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship, and the US Junior Amateur Championships. In the US, he advanced to the semi-finals. He also represented New Zealand at the Nomura Cup in China and played in the Junior Presidents Cup immediately before the main event at Medinah Country Club.

Moore described the Junior Presidents Cup experience as a major goal he had pursued for two years. He noted that spending two days with professionals like Ryan Fox and Scottie Scheffler was a special part of that journey.

Regarding the current tournament, Moore expressed confidence in the New Zealand contingent. He stated that there is a good chance one of the local players will win the event. He added that winning at home would be particularly special since no New Zealander has previously claimed the title.

Moore is currently ranked 225th in the world amateur golf rankings. He has stated that he is not in a rush to turn professional and aims to enter the top 100 of the amateur rankings before making that transition. His immediate focus remains on his amateur career.

The winner of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship receives an invitation to play in the 2027 Masters Tournament. The champion also earns an exemption into The 155th Open Championship.