GOLF
UA’s Moore tied at top in Amateur qualifying
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Arkansas junior Taylor Moore birdied four of his final five holes Tuesday at the Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands Course to shoot a 2-under 69 at the Riverside Course to earn a share of medalist honors in qualifying at the 114th U.S. Amateur.
Moore and Lee McCoy of Clarksville, Ga., topped the field of 312 competitors at 8-under 135.
A seven-man playoff will be held this morning to determine the final four competitors in the match-play field. One of the four qualifiers will take on Moore, the No. 2 seed, at 1 p.m. Central on the Riverside Course, where Moore shot a 6-under 66 on Monday.
Six current and former Arkansas golfers attempted to qualify for match play, but Moore was the only one to make it.
Teammate Nicolas Echavarria was in contention after opening with a 71 but shot 80 to miss the cut by six strokes.
Recent Arkansas graduates Blake Biddle and Josh Eure finished tied for 99th overall, two shots out of the playoff at 147. Biddle shot 72 Tueday and Eure shot a 74.
Moore, competing in his third U.S.Amateur, entered the day in a three-way tie for first place, but slipped out of first when he was 2-over through his first 13 holes before finishing with his barrage of birdies.
Moore, one of three players to break 70 on both courses in stroke play, and McCoy defeated the rest of the field by three strokes.
“I just tried to treat stroke play as a tournament within a tournament and still compete and stay aggressive today, which I did, but I wasn’t as sharp (as Monday),” Moore told USGA.org.. “I just kind of used it as a practice round for match play, in a way, getting another look at the course, but still hitting shots and trying to make putts and figuring out the greens. I think I did a good job of that.”
Alec Tahy finished at 151 after posting a 75 Tuesday. Zach Coats came in at 152 after a 77 Tuesday.
FOOTBALL
Anderson to speak in North Little Rock
Arkansas State football Coach Blake Anderson will discuss the upcoming season with fans Aug. 18 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.
Anderson and ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir will address fans at an event that begins at noon, and is free to the public. Anderson and Mohajir will speak in Meeting Room A at Verizon Arena.
Anderson will begin his first season as ASU on Aug. 30, when the Red Wolves host Montana State at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. Fan appreciation day will be Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. at Centennial Bank Stadium.
BASEBALL
Maumelle pitcher signs with ASU
Tanner Kirby has signed a Naitonal Letter of Intent to play basball at Arkansas State, the school announced Tuesday.
Kirby, a right-handed pitcher went 7-2 as a senior at Maumelle with 69 strikeouts in 13 appearances.