Top Amateur Moore Signs with Arizona
08/01/2015 | Women's Golf
TUCSON, Ariz. – Top junior golfer Haley Moore has signed with Arizona and will join the women's golf program for the 2016 spring season, head women's golf coach Laura Ianello announced on Saturday. Moore is currently ranked seventh in her class and 14th overall in the American Junior Golf Association's Polo rankings. She was originally scheduled to start her collegiate career in the fall of 2016, but is now expected to join the Wildcats a semester early.
"Adding Haley to our roster will increase the team's depth and enhance its quality,” Ianello stated. “Haley will be one of the most experienced players on our team. She is a player who excels in all parts of the game. She not only has proved herself in the junior ranks but she has succeeded when playing against the best in the world. We expect Haley to make a huge impact and we are excited for her arrival."
An Escondido, Calif. (San Pasqual HS) native, Moore was the only amateur to make the cut at the 2015 ANA Inspiration Championship, the LPGA's first major of the season, after qualifying for the event by winning the junior portion of the tournament. That came on the heels of a victory at the AJGA's ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior. As a result, she earned Golfweek's Junior Girls Golfer of the Week honors.
“I knew 30 minutes into my unofficial visit that the University of Arizona was where I wanted to attend college and play golf,” said Moore. “I am so excited to be joining the Wildcat family and look forward to starting the next chapter of my career. These past years of playing junior golf tournaments have helped my game rise to the next level and prepared me for college golf at U of A.”
Moore has already qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur in August and has recently produced a collection of top finishes. She was the only player to go 4-0 in matches at the Wyndham Cup, leading Team West to victory. Moore earned runner-up honors at the Yani Tseng Invitational after posting a six-under 210 over three rounds. She tied for fourth at the IMG Junior World Championships with a one-under 287 and earned the Oakley 'U da Bomb' award for low round after a first-round 65 (-7). Moore won the SDJGA Craig Stadler tournament by 22 strokes, finishing at 14 under.
"I still remember the first time I saw Haley back in November of 2012 at the AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic,” assistant coach Derek Radley added. “Her tee shot ended up on the cart path and she decided to hit a low hook off the cement through the trees up onto the green. I immediately texted Coach Ianello and said, 'Haley Moore needs to be a Wildcat!' I have watched Haley over the past few years and she never ceases to amaze me, whether it be her 155 mph ball speed off the tee or her incredible hand-eye coordination around the greens. Haley has been blessed with a true talent for the game of golf and we are so excited for her to continue her journey as part of our Wildcat family."
The owner of eight course records, Moore earned the SCPGA Toyota Tour Player of the Year award in January of 2015 and the Howard Smith award for low scoring average. She also secured CIF Player of the Year honors in December of 2014.
Moore will join her brother Tyler, who will begin his collegiate career this fall, at Arizona. Both were coached by the great Jim Flick prior to his passing and they now work with Harry Rudolph, who played his collegiate golf at Arizona and helped the Wildcats to the 1992 NCAA Championship while earning first-team All-America honors. Their parents, Thomas and Michelle, were both Division I student-athletes as well. Thomas was a football standout at Ohio State, while Michelle played tennis for the Buckeyes.
For continued coverage of Arizona women's golf, follow the team on Twitter @UAWomensGolf, at Facebook.com/ArizonaWomensGolf or visit ArizonaWildcats.com
