adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Professional Golfers Association president Garry Thompson has hailed Zimbabwe-born professional golfer Sean Crocker, who will be part of the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open which tees off on Thursday next week at Royal Harare.
Crocker, who is based in the United States, is coming an invitee and is expected to be one of the players to give South African golfers a good run for their money at this tour- nament.
The South Africans have dominated the tournament since its return in 2010 but Thompson believes this year could be a different story altogether.
“I think it is time that we have one of our own on the podium. I rate Crocker very highly and I think he will be up there.
“The guy is playing some fantastic golf, I had several rounds with him and he is doing very well.
‘’I think he can pose a challenge, especially now that his confidence is high after he shot a massive 64 in his last game, and he will be expecting to improve.
“We will, of course, have to do without another youngster, Scott Vincent, who has commitments in the Asian Tour, but with Crocker we have someone to look forward to.
“There are a lot of other good players and we can talk of – Mark Williams, Ryan Cairns, Tongo Charamba, Robson Saurombe, Nyasha Muyambo and Ben Follet-Smith – among others, who are capable of doing well.
“Some of the guys have a Sunshine Tour victory on their backs and I don’t think there will be any pressure on them playing at home,” said Thompson.
Crocker, son to former Zimbabwe cricket player Garry Crocker, recently turned professional.
He has in the past won the Zimbabwe Open prize for the best amateur in 2015. The Zimbabwe Open will have the highest number of participants, 96, lining up at Royal Harare.
Online Reporter