Nick Moore (NCGA photo)

Beginning the day at 5-under, 36-hole leaders Daniel Connolly and Matt Cohn could not pull ahead of the pack as they each carded a 1-under 70. This left room for Moore and Alex Chin.

Moore, 38, had a one-shot advantage over Chin as they came to the par-5 18th. Chin, playing aggressively, reached the green in two. The University of San Francisco senior tapped in a three-foot eagle putt to tie Moore at 8-under. Needing a nine-foot birdie to drop, Moore clutched up and drilled the putt for the win.

“It was fun. That’s why we’re out here,” said Moore, whose 205 total matched the championship record. “It’s pretty close to one of my best tournament rounds out here.”

Moore’s win at the Northern California Amateur is his second in three years as he took home the 2018 crown over good friend Matt Cohn. Cohn finished just two shots back of Moore on Sunday.

The 2015 NCGA player of the year has had quite a struggle personally after losing his grandmother in 2019. Albeit in the midst of a pandemic, getting back to the winner’s circle allows Moore to have a sense of normalcy once again.

“The key is to continue to believe in yourself,” Moore said. “Knowing that you’re going to get through the bad times.”