Haley Moore, a sixteen year-old from Escondido, Calif., today secured a historic invitation to play in golf’s first major of the 2015 season.
Haley claimed the final place in a field of 115 at this week’s ANA Inspiration after carding an impressive 67 to win the ANA Inspiration Champions Junior Challenge by an impressive four shots. Haley will now tee off alongside
the best women’s golfers in the world when the tournament begins this Thursday (April 2nd) at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
Moore, a sophomore at San Pasqual High School, shot -5 today on the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills Country Club to capture the ANA Inspiration Champions Junior Challenge by four strokes. 2015 is Haley’s third
year competing in the Champions Junior Challenge.
“I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play in the season’s first major [ANA Inspiration],” said Moore. “My coach today, Patricia, was an inspiration. I started to get nervous going down the final stretch and she filled my head with positive thoughts, even showing me a picture of her children to keep me relaxed. My inspirational shot of the day was a 120-yard wedge into the first, which took one hop and went in for an eagle.”
Each group of junior players competing in the Champions Junior Challenge on Monday was paired with a former ANA Inspiration champion or LPGA legend for coaching and mentoring through the event. Moore had the chance to work closely with 2003 ANA Inspiration champion Patricia Meunier-Lebouc on the practice range and during Monday’s round providing valuable guidance and inspiration to the next generation of golf stars.
Moore’s journey to the ANA Inspiration is just beginning as she has also been invited by All Nippon Airways to attend the Champions Dinner taking place this evening and the pro-am on Wednesday, April 1. Come Thursday, she will tee it up with the best players on the LPGA tour to compete for one of the greatest titles in golf.
