'Pipeline' Moe Stories from the Filmmakers' Archives
Moe Norman displays the Seagram Shield after winning the CPGA championship in 1966 Calgary
Did you know, the month of August is the anniversary for Moe’s two Canadian Amateur wins?
On August 7th, 1955, Moe sank a 10-foot putt on the 39th hole to beat Lyle Crawford of Vancouver. Norman had sent the tournament into extra holes with a 5-foot putt following a 100-yard approach shot on the 36th. The Press reported:
"The exciting finish came after Crawford, a 22-year-old car salesman, had squared the match on the 36th hole with a clutch five-foot putt. Tiring quickly in the 80-degree heat, the two men halved the first two extra holes before Norman, a 25-year-old former caddy, birdied the 39th."
Then, on August 18th, 1956, Moe defeated the Ontario Willingdon Cup captain, Jerry Magee, for a repeat of the title. These titles led to invites from The Masters Tournament at Augusta.
But those weren’t Moe’s only August wins. In 1958, Moe tied George Knudson at the 54-hole Bursary Golf Tournament. They each posted a one-under par 215 and cashed in $1,500 to tour the US circuit. Knudson followed up that by winning the Manitoba Open the next week.
And then in August 1966, Moe set a record at the Canadian Professional Golf Association championship with a closing round 67 and a 54-hole total 204, nine under par, to break his own 1963 record. Following his personal best at the CPGA, the Press went on to report that Moe wasn't eligible to play on the US tour because he hadn't attended the Pro Golfers' Association school, citing that he had difficulty finding sponsorship.
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Producer/Editor J. Matthew Jacob is a New York City-based commercial editor and filmmaker with an extensive documentary background, J. Matthew Jacob's post-production experience includes films such as Actor/Director Ethan Hawke's Seymour: An Introduction (2014), Murderball (2005), Favela Rising (2005), The Trials of Darryl Hunt (2006) and the ESPN 30 for 30 films, The Two Escobars (2010) and Youngstown Boys (2013). As an editor for the documentary exhibition Darfur/Darfur, his work has exhibited in more than 30 cities and museums worldwide.
As a 15 year old working at Sunningdale Golf Course in London Ontario, I caddied for Alvie Thompson in one of the Canadian tour stops. He tied with Moe after regulation play. Alvie beat Moe in a playoff, I believe on the first hole after Moe was stymied after his tee shot landed behind a tree. I felt badly for Moe. This was my claim to fame, being so close to GREATNESS.
Robert Foxworthy
London, Ontario