Are we seeing the changing of the guard in the Moore County Women’s Amateur Championship?

Could be. But only if new champion Amanda D’Ostroph likes the feeling well enough to continue competing.

The Moore Women’s title had virtually become the property of Patty Moore, a co-resident of Charlotte and Pinehurst who has made the tournament her personal playpen over the past few years.

The championship was pretty much a social event until Moore came on the scene. There was some decent play and some good stories coming out of it, but nobody was threatening par. Then along came Patty and things dramatically changed for the better score-wise.

Everyone knew that the minute Patty entered, the tournament was over. She won by as many as 25 shots. Everyone else just showed up because there were a bunch of flights and everybody was eligible to win something. Plus it was a good excuse to get away from the house and the hubby for a couple of days.

So Patty entered five times and won five times. There were some years when she didn’t enter because of other commitments, but when she did show up, the trophy was hers.

In fact, after her fifth win, the trophy was retired in her name. It was definitely Patty Moore, the Moore champion.

But it was really after Patty’s third win that things began to change. Along came a lady named Dianne Yelovich, a transplanted Californian with a pretty good game of her own. The first year Dianne entered, Patty didn’t. The result was an easy romp to the title for the newcomer.

But the emergence of Yelovich provided new inspiration for Moore, and she came back for more. Now she had some competition, and nothing fires up Patty like a challenge.

I know I was dumb enough once to take her on in a friendly match with her joining me on the men’s tees. Believe me, they were more like Patty tees. She took my money, drank my beer and has yet to apologize. I haven’t been that dumb since.

When Yelovich outdueled Moore down the stretch two years ago at Southern Pines Golf Club, there was nothing flukey about it. Dianne played some great golf and refused to open the door for the ever-lurking Patty.

So, naturally, Patty got her dander up and stormed back to win her sixth title last year.

Everyone was expecting more of the same this year at the Country Club of Whispering Pines. But D’Ostroph had a different setting in mind. The rising sophomore at Charleston Southern University lives with her family just off the 10th fairway at Whispering Pines, and she had every right to feel at home.

“She drives the ball straight and putts well,” Patty said. “She’s longer off the tee than I am. I think she should give me a yard for every year older I am. I’d like to see her gain a few more yards on her drives, but she has all the elements of the game, and she’s fun to watch.”

The 19-year-old D’Ostroph realized she was playing with a legend of the game in the Carolinas and appreciated every moment of it.

“I learned some things from watching Patty play,” Amanda said. “There were times when both of us were in situations that weren’t ideal, and it was impressive watching the shots she was able to execute.

“On one hole we were both off the fairway, and I played my shot around the trees and back into the fairway. Patty was in almost the same position, and she just took her ball right over the trees and onto the green. I would never have even thought about doing that. She plays fearless golf.

“I’m just very grateful for being able to win. Patty and Dianne are strong players, and I had to play my best.”

As Amanda’s collegiate career progresses, she may not be able to play in the Moore Women’s Championship every year. But it would be nice to see her back. In fact, I’d love to see a year when not only she, but Eleana Collins and Corrine Carr went after each other in the event.

Now that would really give Patty Moore something to get her competitive juices flowing.