Victoria Moore
(December 12, 2011)–Victoria Leigh-Anne Moore was born in Shreveport, Louisiana but calls Mansfield, Louisiana her home. The city is a parish seat of DeSoto county and uniquely known as “A City of Vision” by its 5,300 residents. It is here that Deacon Stewart Collins at St. John’s Baptist Church helped Victoria get involved in playing the game of golf. Today the bright 17-year-old student has racked up a host of trophies that testify to her brilliant golfing skills.
Victoria is an honor student and very active at her Mansfied High School. She is a member of the drama club, school band, golf team, and helps manage the girl’s basketball team. Most notably, Victoria was instrumental in getting the golf team started at her school. Even with this tight schedule of extracurricular activities she keeps golf in the center of her focus and practices daily.
A shining face in her community, Victoria carries a handicap of 15 and is a dual member of The First Tee of Northwest Louisiana (since 2006) and of The First Tee of Mansfield, Louisiana (since 2006). She plays between 8-10 rounds per month in the southern balmy weather.
Victoria admits, “I am lucky to have two home courses. The Jerry Tim Brooks Golf Course, a 9-hole regulation length golf course at Lakeside located in Shreveport, Louisiana and The First Tee Course, a traditional course with narrow fairways lined by mature trees in Mansfield.” Both courses provide Victoria with ample challenge to continue developing her skills and she enjoys playing them with her sister, Olivia.
When Victoria speaks about why she loves to play golf over her other activities, she emphasizes the tremendous “relaxation and peace of mind” that she gains from being out on the course and close to nature.
Notwithstanding this softer side of her personality, it is Victoria’s competitive spirit that has helped her claim several recent wins: First Tee of Central Louisiana, in Pineville, LA, where she won Grand Championship Girl’s Division, ages 12 and up, this past October 8.
On the course Victoria has immense stamina, great body strength and, just by watching, you can tell that she is in pursuit of excellence for herself at every turn.
“Water hazards are my biggest challenge on the course; they always make me nervous!….I want to always play better than the time before, so I look at the things I didn’t do so well and try to make them better. I am my own best competitor,” she states.
Victoria has accomplished a lot for herself as a young golfer and she does not hesitate to give credit and appreciation to her dedicated golf trainers, Stewart Collins, John Penn, Greg Kennedy and Alton Taylor. They have all helped her develop her golfing skills and game strategy.
“I have learned to focus on becoming a better golfer, by perfecting my swing, l also learned that it is far better to approach the game with a ‘one hole at a time’ attitude instead of focusing on the entire course layout,” says the teen. “Additionally, I have learned that it’s good to have a great drive, but it’s even better to have an awesome putt.”
