Columnist Adam Candee: Ryan Moore takes his hot game to Ireland

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

I'll make a guarantee that might appear blasphemous: Ryan Moore will not win the tournament in which he is playing this week.

Considering that Moore is playing the best golf of any amateur in the country in 2004, my ability to channel Miss Cleo could easily be in question. So obviously, I'm cheating because Moore takes part in the Palmer Cup in Ireland starting Friday -- a team competition pitting the best college players from the United States and Europe in Ryder Cup fashion.

Moore, who will soon be a senior at UNLV, added another impressive notch to his putter last week at the Western Amateur in Benton Harbor, Mich., fighting off a mediocre opening round and a gallant challenge in the championship match to win his third consecutive tournament. After giving up a 4-up lead through nine holes, Moore recovered to sink a birdie putt from 33 feet on his first extra hole against James Nitties to win the tournament.

"I pretty much just willed that one in," Moore said after the tournament. "I told my caddie, 'This putt is going in.' "

OK, stop the record there for a second. For Moore, who exudes a Greg Maddux-like aura of indifference to his personal achievements, to let us even that far into his head is really surprising. The inner confidence that stokes Moore's fire seeped outside, if only for a moment, and it is fascinating to glimpse inside the head of a reserved young champion.

Now, go ahead ...

"I was putting well all day and waiting to make one," Moore said. "Unfortunately, I had to wait until the 19th hole."

The final victory was also a test of stamina, as Moore needed 20 holes to win his semifinal match earlier in the day.

The Western Amateur win follows Moore's dominant victories at the U.S. Amateur Public Links -- his second win in three years in the event -- and the Sahalee Players Championship. While he cannot win the Palmer Cup by himself, Moore could be primed for another huge week because he is a master in match play. He admittedly loves the mental grappling involved in squaring off with a single opponent.

In addition to his match play wins at Publinx and the Western Am, Moore also won four matches for UNLV in a collegiate event last year. And with that, our superlatives stop until Moore's next feat.

Party on

The organizers of the Las Vegas Invitational would love for the city's PGA tour stop to become a big party that brings out the local community. Along that line, their latest ticket promotion for the Oct. 7-10 tournament makes plenty of sense.

The package includes a number of perks such as passes to parties and a concert by Kenny Loggins. There are also two season badges for the tournament, a VIP parking pass at the Marriott and 25 any-day single admission tickets. The package is on sale for $400.

For more information, call 242-3005.

Pacific heights

The Southern Nevada Golf Association's team entry into the Pacific Coast Amateur in Eugene, Ore., is holding its own after a day, while one of its players is nestled into the upper part of the leaderboard.

The SNGA trio of Matt Kodama (71), Kenny Ebalo (76) and Chad Fosburg (77) counted a 147 for Tuesday's first day of Morse Cup competition, with Fosburg's score thrown out. The group from Northern California owns a commanding 11-stroke lead.

Kodama's even-par round of 71 placed him five strokes off the lead heading into today's second day. Playing as an individual, Brady Exber of Las Vegas shot the next-best local score with a 2-over 73.

Another local player of note is UNLV junior-to-be Ryan Keeney of Redmond, Wash., who shot a 1-under 70.

Pool play

Some final kudos to SNGA veteran Doug Pool, who generously stepped aside from the PCA competition to allow Fosburg -- who played excellent golf in losing a playoff to Kodama for the Nevada State Amateur title -- the chance to represent Southern Nevada. Fosburg expressed his gratitude and so do we for a classy move.