Former Eastern Kentucky University graduate assistant coach and Frankfort, Kentucky native Mandy Moore was chosen as EKU’s women’s golf head coach on August 31, 2018.
In her first seven seasons as the head coach of the Colonels, Moore’s teams have recorded six of the top 10 best season scoring averages in program history, 10 of the top 13 single round team scores and 15 of the top 19 tournament totals in program history. She has coached the three players with the lowest career scoring average in program history, eight of the 10 lowest single season individual scoring averages, six of the top seven individual 54-hole tournament totals and four of the top seven individual single round scores.
Moore guided the Colonels to a record breaking season in 2021-22. EKU set 10 team records and the Colonels broke 13 individual records. Eastern Kentucky tied the program mark with five tournament wins and set new standards for scoring average (296.81), par or better rounds (8), birdies (456), eagles (8), tournament low round (283), tournament 54-hole total (858) and more. No previous EKU team turned in more than three rounds of par or better in a season.
Individually, under Moore’s guidance Ragnhildur Kristinsdottir concluded her spectacular career by being named Atlantic Sun Conference Golfer of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-America, ASUN Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earning an individual bid to the NCAA Regional and breaking 12 program records.
Kristinsdottir’s new records included: season average (72.10), season par or better rounds (20), season birdies (144), season eagles (6), tournament low total (204), career par or better rounds (39), career birdies (394) and career eagles (11). In addition, Rylea Marcum set a new team record with a single round of 64 and joined Kristinsdottir in setting a new mark for counting scores in a season (36).
The Colonels finished first at the Redbird Invitational, Lady Red Wolves Classic, Terrier Intercollegiate, First Coast Classic and Colonel Classic. The team also had two second place finishes. EKU began the season by breaking the program mark for 54-hole total by six shots with an 861 (-3) at the Redbird Invitational. Three tournaments later, the team’s total of 858 (-6) at the Lady Red Wolves Classic shattered that record. The Colonels’ first round score of 283 at the Redbird Invitational beat the previous single round record for team score by one. The team fired another round of 283 at the Johnie Imes Invitational three weeks later.
In addition to being named ASUN Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Kristinsdottir joined Marcum on the ASUN All-Academic Team. Kristinsdottir also earned ASUN First Team All-Conference honors, becoming the second player in program history to be a 4-time all-conference pick.
In her first season, Moore was chosen as the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year. She led the team to nine top-10 performances in 11 events, two first place finishes and set what was then a new program record for season scoring average (298.55). In addition, Elsa Moberly posted what was at the time the second-lowest scoring average (73.48) in EKU history and set a new single season record for par or better rounds (15).
In her second season, Moore led the team to four top-10 finishes in seven events, including two top-5 performances. As a team, the Colonels posted the second lowest stroke average (305.5) in the OVC.
During the 2020-21 season, her third as head coach, Moore led the Colonels to a pair of tournament wins, four top-5 performances in six events and a second place finish at the conference championship. The team posted the third-best scoring average in program history. Kristinsdottir won two events and set what was then a new program record with a 72.89 stroke average. Senior Diana McDonald (74.67) posted the fourth-best single season average in EKU history. Both players earned all-conference honors and all-tournament recognition.
Eastern Kentucky’s 286 during the first round of the 2021 Colonel Classic tied for the second lowest in program history. Kristinsdottir and McDonald each fired a round of 68 during the 2020-21 season, which tied for the third lowest individual round ever by a Colonel.
In 2022-23, the Colonels put together nine top-10 finishes, including second at the Redbird Invitational. Marcum earned Third Team All-ASUN recognition after finishing the season with a team-best 74.36 stroke average. It was the fifth lowest average in program history.
A year later in 2023-24, Marcum bettered that mark with a 74.14 season scoring average and earned third team all-conference honors again while helping EKU to nine top-10 performances.
In 2024-25, Moore’s seventh season as head coach, the Colonels posted seven top-10 finishes. EKU capped the season with a fifth place performance at the ASUN Championship, its best since placing fourth in 2021-22.
Moore returned to EKU from the University of Tennessee where she was an assistant coach for three years. While at Tennessee she was responsible for daily operations of the golf program, recruiting, travel arrangements, practice, and tournament prep. The Vols had three NCAA Regional appearances and finished 16th in the 2016 NCAA finals during Moore’s time as an assistant coach.
Moore helped Tennessee set a new school record during the 2015-2016 season as the Vols recorded the lowest 54-hole tournament score (838) in program history at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.
Prior to being an assistant coach at Tennessee she worked for Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club from 2013 to 2015. She was the head women’s golf coach at Carson-Newman University from September 2010 to June 2013. As the head coach at Carson-Newman the team hosted the 2011 and 2012 Smoky Mountain Intercollegiate and won the 2011 South Atlantic Conference Championship.
Moore served as the women’s golf team graduate assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky from August 2009 to June 2010.
Moore was a four year letter winner at Wake Forest University. During her collegiate career she was named team captain during the 2006-07 season. She was chosen to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference golf team in 2006 and 2007, named Golfweek Third Team All-America in 2007, and NGCA Honorable Mention All-America in 2006 and 2007.
Moore was named to Wake Forest Dean’s List six semesters and ACC Academic Honor Roll as a Demon Deacon. She received bachelor’s degree in communication from Wake Forest in 2007. In 2010, she earned a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in sport administration at EKU.
Moore won the 2002 Kentucky Women’s Amateur Championship and the Kentucky Women’s Open Championship in 2004. She was a four-time Kentucky All-State golf team selection in high school, winning a regional championship in 2001 and 2002 and helping Western Hills High School to a second-place state championship finish in 1999. Moore was a three-time Academic All-State selection.
Moore played on the Duramed Futures Tour as a full time professional from November 2007 to August 2008. She played in 11 events as a professional.
