American golfer Kim Moore will be pinching herself after recent stellar international performances that have taken her to the top of the game in ‘G4D’ competition (golf for the disabled).
Kim will surely remember the place, Woburn Golf Club, for the rest of her life because it was here, just a little north of London, in May, where she claimed an epic win in the female category of the first-ever G4D Open (May 10-12), staged by The R&A in partnership with the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA.
Leg amputee Moore was able to raise the trophy after a four-shot victory over the challenging Duchess course in tough weather conditions, made possible by some excellent play from tee to green. Fiona Gray of Ireland finished in second place and the two players were neck-and-neck over the three rounds: Fiona praising Kim as a “great competitor”.
The 42-year-old professional from Michigan – Kim plays out of The Moors Golf Club in Portage – was able to add this second ‘major’ title to her CV, which includes her triumph in the US Adaptive Open at Pinehurst No. 6 last year.
Moore is a quietly confident player with a wry sense of humour but also having a keen grasp of the history and spirit of the game. She is indeed a tough opponent, but a beaming smile is never left in the locker room when Kim is out on the course.
Kim said: “I started golf when I was about 15 years old. I’ve always been an athlete at heart, and I wanted to play something I could be competitive in.
“I play because it’s the sport I love. It is my life, my career. The game of golf has opened up so many doors and provided me with so many opportunities in my life.”
Kim now wants others to enjoy all the positives of golf. After her G4D Open win, she was confident in her TV interviews with international media, as she is seeking to encourage and inspire more girls and women with a disability to follow her into golf.
Kim said afterwards: “It’s an honour to be the leading female … I have no doubt that it’s going to bring more players, more participants, more people into the game – and hopefully more females.”
Her performance at Woburn helped Kim to burst into the top-50 of the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) – Ranked at 44 at the time of writing – with only the Netherlands’ Daphne van Houten ahead of her (27th) in the women’s standings. See http://www.wagr.com
This fantastic form led to further reward. Kim qualified for the G4D Tour @ Volvo Scandinavian Mixed in June, playing in the same week and on the same course as the top professional players from the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour.
Once again, Kim was shining a spotlight to encourage more women and girls. Her strong long game and sure touch on the greens again held up in Stockholm, and she finished in sixth place overall and as the leading female player.
Kim revealed she had come along with a good plan to play well at Woburn, and she is sticking to it as the summer stretches out. Next stop, July, and defending her US Adaptive Open crown. Watch this space!
– Watch/listen to profiles of EDGA players at www.edgagolf.tv
– Learn how to get involved at www.edgagolf.com
By BEN EVANS
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