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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
SEAN Crocker is continuing to lift the country’s flag high after he managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the US Junior Amateur at The Club at Carlton Woods yesterday. The 17-year-old Crocker beat Dylan McCabe of Sioux City, Iowa, one up to book his quarter-final slot but was eventually knocked out by United States’ William Zalatoris from Plano, Texas.
Crocker was a co-medallist in the strokeplay qualifying portion of championship after shooting rounds of 71-66 for a two-day total of seven-under 137 to take a place in the quarter-final of the event.
The Zimbabwean failed to pull through the 15th hole where he was three down.
The 17-year-old Sam Horsfield, from England, powered to the semi-finals after knocking out Andreas Halvorsen of Norway.
Crocker paid tribute to McCabe.
“I slowed myself down on 16, got a chance to get some food, grab a drink and take as much time as I could to relax myself,” Crocker said.
“Dylan was such a great competitor.
“The whole match, even if I got up a hole, he was always right there.
“Every kid that makes matchplay is one of the top 64 juniors in the country,” said Crocker.
The last two of the US championships will now see Curtis Luck of Australia, Horserfield and David Riley of Mississippi battling it out.
Crocker is making waves after he tied for the second-lowest nine-hole score in US Junior history with a 30 on his outward nine during the second round of stroke-play before he advanced to the round of 32 in last year’s US Junior, held at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, California.
Sean, whose father Gary is a retired Zimbabwe international cricketer, also played both cricket and rugby before committing full-time to golf when he was 10.
He was the best amateur in the Golden Open Zimbabwe Open last year.
Online Reporter