Janet Moore is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, which makes her justifiably proud. But not long into a conversation with the 40-year-old Greenwood Village resident, it seems clear there is something that makes her more proud: her 1982 state championship with the Wheat Ridge basketball team.
“I was the point guard,” Moore said. “That sure seems like a long time ago now, though.”
True, Moore was one of the senior members of Wednesday’s opening round of the Colorado Women’s Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. But her 3-over-par 75 put her close to the leaders, which left her thankful because of some putting that “left a little something to be desired,” she said.
“I bet I missed four putts under 5 feet,” Moore said. “So, things could have been better.”
Moore enters today’s second round four shots behind nine women tied for the lead at 1-under 71.
Moore, whose husband, Kent, also is in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, won the Colorado Open in 1993, finishing just ahead of current LPGA standout and Denver native Jill McGill.
Moore never made a serious run at making the LPGA Tour coming out of the University of Arizona. She didn’t want to endure the rigors of travel and the everyday pressure. She wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, which she is to her teenage children, Steven, 15, and Sarah, 13.
“I really like playing amateur golf, that you can take it as far as you want,” said Moore, a Pac-10 all-star in 1986. “You can play at the local level or the national level. I took a trip to the Orient for a tournament in college, and my parents knew after they asked me how it went that I didn’t want to turn pro.”
Moore dominated the Colorado Women’s Golf Association stroke-play championship during the 1990s, winning five times in seven years. Back troubles have limited her play in recent years.
This was the first time the Open has been played at Green Valley Ranch, a course near Denver International Airport.
“Some of the views are spectacular,” Moore said. “It was a real treat to play but a very challenging course.”
Moore did not try to qualify for the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club; she will work as a scorer at the event. She is a member of the club.
“I’ve gotten to meet several members of the tour there when they’ve been in town practicing,” she said. “It’s so great to have the Open in Denver this year.
“I think the state of women’s golf has never been better.”
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
