Unicorns and birdies

First-round co-leader Moore tees off late after watching daughter star in soccer team’s big win, shrugs off golf pressure on way to 7-under 64 and four-shot lead in Gadsden Country Club Invitational.

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

GADSDEN — Dane Moore shot his way around his home course Saturday wearing permagrin, and it had nothing to do with his seven birdies in a bogey-free round.

It had nothing to do with his Gadsden Country Club Invitational-best 64 obviously outpacing first-round co-leader and defending champion Ken Goforth’s 68, which played out earlier in the day.

All Moore could think about was 8-year-old daughter Julia scoring two goals, and her Pink Unicorns rec-league soccer team winning a “blackout” match 2-1 against a team that had beaten them in two similarly close matches earlier this season.

“Perfect day,” Moore said. “No matter what I shot today, I was happy. They played great.”

Gadsden’s Moore stands at 67-64—131, four strokes better than Goforth headed into Sunday’s final round. Moore has won the club championship twice but never the Invitational, which counts as a points event on the Calhoun County Golf Tour.

Moore and Goforth will tee off last Sunday but teed off on opposite ends of the tee times Saturday despite both players shooting 67 Friday. Leaders usually tee off earliest on Saturday.

Before the Invitational started, Moore asked for the later tee time on Saturday so he could attend his daughter’s match.

“I said, I can’t miss it,” he said. “If I can go off late, I’m fine. If not, then I’ll just withdraw.

“They worked with me, and I was able to play late today.”

By the time Moore teed off, Goforth was finishing his 3-under 68, which included eagles on Nos. 3 and 12. Goforth chipped in from about 20 yards on No. 3 and hit a 50-foot putt from the far left side of the green on No. 12.

“Pretty solid on those two holes,” Goforth said. “The rest of it, I kind of hit the ball a lot better than I did yesterday. I had a lot of good birdie looks, and it just wasn’t my day on the greens.”

Goforth put his score on the leaderboard early, but Moore felt no pressure. Everything came up Unicorns.

 No matter how many times he saw his ball roll in the hole, he just kept seeing his youngest daughter’s shots hit the back of the net. 

“It was stress free,” Moore said. ”When I get home to my wife and my kids, they don’t care what I shoot. … ”

“This is just golf. That (youth soccer) is life with your kids.”

Sunday tee times

8 a.m.: Scotty Ward, Michael Mixson
8:12 a.m.: Donnie Sutton, Mike Douglas, Ronnie Siniard
8:24 a.m.: Bryson Ryan, Drew Keenum, Larry Champion, Mason Aulsbrook
8:36 a.m.: James Harrison, Michael McDowell, Drew Steele, Will Bedwell
8:48 a.m.: Ryan Townley, Aaron Gregerson, Paul Hill, Eli Dunn
9 a.m.: Kyle Gray, Matt Greer, Ted Gregerson
9:12 a.m.: Jeff Hammontree, Sam Hathcock, Anthony Mancini
9:24 a.m.: Jordan Burgess, Scott Jimmerson, Josh Bellew
9:36 a.m.: Dre Davenport, Chad Maples, Houston Black, Andrew Gunnels
9:48 a.m.: Cole Hill, Mark Gaines, Lee Hubbard, Nathan Nailer
10 a.m.: Clayton Chandler, Cove McHugh, Jeremy Burns, David Kyatt
10:12 a.m.: Matt Drummond, Casey Harmon, Tanner Wells, Bob Eaton
10:48 a.m.: Wayne Copeland, Luke Armstrong, Drey Reeves
11 a.m.: J.D. Berndt, Chad Reavis, Michael Rich
11:12 a.m.: Josh Ashley, Ryan Powers, Eli Edge, Jeremy McGatha
11:24 a.m.: Dustin Travis, Justin Graveman, Chandler Richards, Sawyer Edwards
11:36 a.m.: Bo Hayes, Daily Thomas, Corey Ray, Chris Leonhardt
11:48 a.m.: Dane Moore, Ken Goforth, Brennan Clay, Chase Kennedy

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