Tech Golf Pro Qualifies for Taylor Cup Matches

by George Zamora

SOCORRO, N.M., October 18, 2001-- Russell Moore, head golf professional at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course, has qualified this year as one of the top ten professional golfers from the Sun Country Professional Golfers Association who will compete next week in the Taylor Cup Matches at the Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Colo.

"It is truly an honor to represent the Sun Country section and New Mexico Tech in this event," Moore says.

Each year, the Taylor Cup Matches pit the best pro golfers in the Sun Country PGA, which encompasses all of New Mexico and El Paso, against the best the Colorado PGA has to offer in a three-day match play event.

The event is held at alternating venues in various Colorado and New Mexico golf courses and is named in honor of J.D. Taylor, a PGA professional who managed courses in Colorado and New Mexico for over 50 years and was known throughout the Southwest for his extraordinary abilities and skills on the golf course.

Moore relates that he has stepped up his practice sessions and has played the New Mexico Tech Golf Course twice in the past week in preparation for the Taylor Cup Matches.

"It also helps that I have participated in two prestigious tournaments within the last couple of weeks," Moore says. "Tournament participation allows you to improve your ball striking, and also keeps the mental side of your game sharp."

Professional golfers who are invited to play in the Taylor Cup Matches are selected on the basis of their posted scores averaged out over the past year's Sun Country PGA tournaments; total money won in Sun Country PGA events; participation in Sun Country PGA tournaments; participation in qualifiers for regional and national PGA tournaments; order of finish in Sun Country PGA stroke play and match play events; and order of finish in the New Mexico Open, Conrad Hilton Open, and Sun Country Classic golf tournaments.

"It means a lot to play in the Taylor Cup Matches, especially after you realize they are a reward for having a good year, at least as far as tournament play is concerned," Moore says. "Also, J.D. Taylor was one of my golfing heroes when I was growing up. I watched him play in many tournaments, and he always conducted himself as a gentleman."

Moore has been the head golf professional at New Mexico Tech for nearly 20 years. He grew up in the Las Vegas, N.M. area, and is graduate of New Mexico Highlands University.