VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. – Western Michigan head golf coach Kim Moore won the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open at the legendary No. 6 Golf Course at Pinehurst on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Moore led from start to finish, ending each round at the top of the leaderboard. She opened the tournament on Monday shooting a 76, followed up by an 80 on Tuesday and a final round of 76 for a 54-hole total of 232 (+16). She finished eight shots ahead of her closest competitor, Ryanne Jackson.
 
"I felt like I played pretty consistent, specially today," said Moore in her post-match press conference. "I knew, going in, that if I kept getting pars I'd be tough to beat. I knew birdies are kind of hard to get out here sometimes. That was my strategy, to keep it in the fairway, hit some greens in regulation and get pars."
 
Moore finished with 38 pars for the tournament.
 
The United States Golf Association established the U.S. Adaptive Open as a new national championship to showcase the world's best golfers with disabilities. The creation of the tournament followed through from a pledge by the USGA in 2017 to establish a championship for the adaptive golf community. Moore was born without a right foot and a slight case of spina bifida.
 
"I think what has been seen this week, around the world and around the country, is going to elevate the amputee community and the adaptive community," Moore commented on the impact of the tournament.  "I think we are going to have a rise in participation, I hope that's what this brings and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. "
 
"It's been pretty amazing, exciting, humbling," Moore said on her victory. "Gratitude is another word that comes to mind. It's pretty cool to be a part of history in golf. I'm thankful for my friends and family and their support, and all the people back home that are wishing me good luck and watching. It's been very humbling and exciting all week and it's just been amazing."