Two states, two state amateur crowns for transfer-toughened Moss
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Sydney Moss didn’t expect to win the 2022 Louisiana Women’s Amateur Golf Championship just a few weeks after graduating from Byrd High School.
But she survived a rough start, and overcame being the 15th seed in a 16-woman field qualifying for match play to charge to that title.
Four years and three colleges later, she did expect to contend for another state am crown – in Mississippi. Thursday, Moss was not only in the mix at the end of the 54-hole championship – she was in a playoff, and she won it.
The Shreveporter, who recently graduated from Mississippi Christian (formerly Mississippi College), used lessons learned along her unconventional college golf path and employed her trademark short game to prevail on the fourth extra hole and capture the Mississippi Women’s Amateur.
“It’s a little surreal, pretty cool. I don’t believe many people have two state amateur titles in two states,” she said Saturday after finishing a round at East Ridge Country Club. “I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do it without the transfer portal and (Mississippi Christian) Coach (Brent) Belton.”
It was no surprise that chipping and putting was key to last week’s win.
“My coaches at school and everybody who knows me on the golf course, they call it ‘the Sydney short game.’ I can hack it around sometimes, and get it up and down when I need to,” she said.
That happened on her final hole of regulation, and again to win. Moss chipped to within four feet and sank the decisive par putt.
Moss opened with a one-under 71 to take the lead, held it with an even par round Wednesday at Patrick Farms Golf Club in suburban Jackson, and overcame a bogey on her first hole in the final round Thursday to finish even for the tournament. So did British golfer Maddy Beeching, who plays at Jackson State and shot 71 in the final round.
“It was pretty intense. We weren’t talking, I can tell you that,” said Moss. “I could tell she wanted to beat my brains in, and I wanted to do the same. Any mistake in a playoff is critical. We were neck and neck, and eventually the chip went close and the putt dropped.”
The daughter of former LSU All-American and PGA Tour player Perry Moss isn’t exactly a chip off the old block but she is building a nifty golf resume.
“Everybody tells me, ‘your dad was the best ball striker.’ I take pride in being a good short gamer,” she said. “I want to chip and putt it better than him because I think that’s ultimately where you score.”
While playing for 2001 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Meredith Duncan at Byrd, she won the 2020 Louisiana Girls Junior Amateur, the 2021 LHSAA Division I championship, and as a senior was Division I state runner-up. Weeks later, she claimed the state am championship and headed off to the University of Memphis on a golf scholarship.
It wasn’t a good fit. Stephen F. Austin was, but after two years there, SFA dropped the sport and Moss was suddenly back in the transfer portal.
“I don’t take it personally when people don’t know where I’m at,” said Moss, chuckling, then explaining although it was challenging, changing school colors three times in four years has been beneficial.
“It would be a lot on anybody. I’ve tried to handle it to the best of my abilities, and I think I’ve handled it with grace.
“Each school taught me something different. I don’t think I would have learned all I have if I had stayed at the same place,” she said. “If you think about it, in golf if you’re comfortable, you’re probably doing something wrong. Nothing about golf is comfortable. Moving around and getting me out of my comfort zone actually helped my golf game, and taught me a lot.
“Four years apart from the Louisiana state am win, there were a lot of steep learning curves I went through, some growing pains. I didn’t really show up to the Louisiana women’s amateur expecting anything. I was a pretty young golfer. This time around I feel like I’ve learned a lot, and now I have a different mindset: if I play my game, I can give myself a good chance to do well in the tournament.”
One aspect has been constant.
“The Sydney that played in 2022 and this version both have the same competitiveness, grit, tenacity. I was out there fighting. That hasn’t changed one bit. I don’t have to have my best game, but I will fight to the death.”
She was a winner at this year’s Louisiana state am – taking the consolation bracket, not the top prize. But about that time, she found out since she was living in Ridgeland while going to MC, she was eligible for the Magnolia State’s amateur, and signed up.
She brought home four trophies, including two medalist awards and the tournament prizes: “one you get to keep, the one you have to bring back,” said Moss.
“It showed me I’ve grown in my golf game. I’ve gained maturity in certain areas I didn’t have before. I don’t think it’s about the external game, but the internal affirmation I got this week,” she said. “That counts for something.”
Moss will play her final year for the Choctaws and will aim at a master’s degree in applied exercise physiology after receiving a bachelor’s in kinesiology in May.
Her MC golf debut was a success. Moss won in her hometown, taking an individual title at Centenary’s Hal Sutton Invitational, and finished with a trio of top three finishes. She led MC to a fifth-place finish at the Gulf South Conference Championships as she posted a top 10 to earn All-GSC recognition.
Future plans? Wait and see, she said. For now, she’s content to savor her latest accomplishment and possible unique status in regional golf history.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
