Canada awaits Hog golfer after unfinished business

Arkansas coach Brad McMakin, right, talks with senior Taylor Moore during the final round of an NCAA regional on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys golf course in Kohler, Wis.
Arkansas coach Brad McMakin, right, talks with senior Taylor Moore during the final round of an NCAA regional on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys golf course in Kohler, Wis.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas golfer Taylor Moore is stoked about starting his career on Canada's PGA Mackenzie Tour next week.

But before the senior from Edmond, Okla., takes his first swings as a professional, he's hoping to finish his amateur career with flair.

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Taylor Moore glance

Class Senior

Height 5-10

AGE 22 (July 28, 1993)

High school Edmond (Okla.) Memorial

2015-16 stroke average 71.3

Career stroke average 72.3

Noteworthy Has been medalist once (All-American Intercollegiate in 2016) and runner-up twice in his career. … Has finished in the top 11 in all three NCAA regional appearances, including tied for fifth at the Kohler (Wis.) Regional on May 18.

Moore and the Razorbacks hope to be the last team standing among the 30 teams competing at the NCAA Championships starting Friday at the Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.

"Our goal is to get to the top eight match play, and once you get there it gives you some confidence, gives you a boost," Moore said.

Arkansas' top golfer the past two years, Moore will enter the championships with a stroke average of 71.3, a figure that ranks second at Arkansas behind Sebastian Cappelen's 71.26 in 2013-14. The 5-10 right-hander notched his first college victory at the All-American Intercollegiate in Humble, Texas, on Feb. 21.

"Taylor has been such a horse this semester," Arkansas Coach Brad McMakin said.

Moore capped four rounds of qualifying at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Club in Courtenay, British Columbia, on May 6 with a 3-under 69, which left him tied for ninth place and gave him status for the first four events on the Mackenzie Tour.

"I just wanted somewhere to play when I was done," Moore said. "That was the quickest way to have somewhere to play when I finish up here. It's a 12-tournament tour, so it gives me an opportunity to get started, go pro and make some money.

"The past couple of years I've kept track of a couple of guys who have done it in our conference. It just gives you a quicker path to get to the Web.com Tour."

Moore will miss the season-opening Freedom 55 Financial Open in Vancouver, British Columbia, which begins today, as his Razorbacks play their practice round in Eugene. He plans to debut at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open in Victoria, British Columbia, on June 2.

"I'll go straight there from Oregon, so I get three tournaments to attempt to make some money for the other ones," Moore said.

The Canadian tour will do a reshuffle after four events to determine status for the next four tournaments based on earnings.

Moore and fellow seniors Nicolas Echavarria and Kolton Crawford, sophomore Alvaro Ortiz and freshman Charles Kim will head into nationals with some steam. The No. 21 Razorbacks tied No. 10 Florida for second place at the NCAA Kohler (Wisc.) Regional two weeks ago, and they finished third at SECs. The Razorbacks think they can win the tournament.

"I think we can," Moore said. "We have five guys that can win week in and week out."

Sports on 05/26/2016

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