Rookie Taylor Moore ties tournament record in winning Staal Foundation Open

OLIVER PAIPOONGE – Seven weeks ago Taylor Moore played his first event as a professional. On Sunday he was crowned the Staal Foundation Open champion for 2016.

And the 22-year-old did it in record-tying fashion.

With his father Rod on his bag, Moore recorded three birdies and an eagle over a five-hole stretch on the front nine, opened a four-shot lead after 10 and cruised to a three-shot win over Canadian Corey Conners.

His final-round 66 gave him a four-day 270 total, matching J.J. Spaun's winning total of a year ago.

Conners birdied 18 to capture solo second after shooting five under on Sunday.

“I was lucky to have my dad up here this week to kind of comfort me through the weekend. It’s awesome. I’m at a loss for words right now,” said Moore, an Edmond, Okla. resident who left the University of Arkansas and the amateur ranks in late May.

For his efforts, the 22-year-old pocketed $31,500 to vault into second place on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit, earning him a spot in next week’s Canadian Open alongside fellow tour members Dan McCarthy and Canadian Adam Cornelson.

“I didn’t really want to think about it while I was playing, but it’s a dream come true. It’s been a life goal of mine to play in a PGA Tour event, play on tour,” Moore said.

“I’m excited to golf that and get going.”

When he turned professional, he had no idea success would come so quickly.

“It’s just kind of good to see that my preparation in the amateur ranks and college is paying off,” he said.

For Conners, the former U.S. Amateur runner-up, it was close but not quite for a second straight year in Thunder Bay.

The 24-year-old Listowel, Ont. native opened with three straight birdies to capture a share of the lead with Moore, but couldn’t keep the momentum going after his final-group opponent eagled Whitewater’s lengthy seventh hole.

“I played pretty well, got off to a pretty nice start and was happy with my game all around. Taylor played great today and was a deserving champion. I had a lot of fun out there. I would have liked to have gotten a few more putts to fall,” said Conners, who took home a $2,500 prize as the top Canadian finisher this week on top of his $18,900 share of the purse.

His pattern of results at the third-year tournament wasn’t lost on Conners – his runner-up finish one better than his third-place standing in 2015.

“I keep getting better,” he said. “I was just thinking that in the scoring tent. Next year things are looking brighter for me.”

Of course Conners, third on the PGA Latinoamerica money list, would have to return to the Mackenzie Tour for that to happen.

Canadian teen Austin Connelly, who was advised last year by two-time major champion and long-time friend Jordan Spieth to turn pro, took third, after birdying five of his last seven holes.

“I played very solid today. I hit 18 greens. I didn’t miss a green the entire round,” he said, earning $11,900 for his troubles.

The event raised $250,000 for three charities.