Thursday, July 26, 2018

Confident Crocker shoots a six-under 

64 on Challenge Tour

Sean Crocker showed renewed confidence on Day One of the Challenge Tour's Euram Bank Open and shares the lead following a rock-solid performance at last week’s 147th Open Championship.
The American made seven birdies around the undulating Golf Club Adamstal course in Austria on his way to an opening-round six-under-par 64.
After a whirlwind week competing, and making the cut in his first Major Championship start, the 21 year old has returned to the European Challenge Tour feeling reassured about his abilities.
“Confidence-wise I got a lot out of last week because I was struggling with my game,” he said. “At one stage I got to tied sixth on the third day, so I just got some confidence out of last week to know that if I go play the golf I want to go play, I can do it, which is huge, considering I’ve been struggling for a while now.”
“I was able to just kind of let everything go today and I knew if I played free-wheeling and listened to my caddie, Trevor, when I needed to, and did what I wanted to do the other times, I could get around this course with a pretty low score.”
The strong start for Crocker may not have happened had it not been for a blemish on the opening-hole of the tournament, which served as motivation.
“I hit it to three feet and three-putted on the first hole, so that kind of got the blood going a little bit,” he said. “I hit the ball really well and had a few kick-in birdies and took advantage of the course where I could.”
Playing at a firm and fast links course in a Major was a first for Crocker, and while the test being presented to the players this week stands in stark contrast to The Open, it is still unfamiliar territory.
“Course wise this is a completely different golf course,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s up the hill for 14 holes and then you get a break for one, and then its flat for the rest. I’ve never seen a golf course built on a mountain like this.
“It’s cool, you get a lot of cool views out here and you can kind of take it in if you’re not playing so well if it happens.”
Joining the Florida resident at the top of the leaderboard is Czech golfer Filip Mruzek, whose bogey-free 64 included a back-nine score of five under par 29.
“I didn’t make many mistakes today,” said Mruzek. “I basically only missed two greens and made two good up and downs and the rest of the holes were pretty steady.
“It’s perfect. It’s good to see your name on top of the leaderboard, but it’s just a good start and there’s still three rounds to go. All of the good players can shoot low, so the plan will be to just keep my strategy for the next three rounds.”
Five golfers sit one shot back of the leaders, including Road to Ras Al Khaimah leader Joachim B. Hansen. Should Hansen — who has already won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2018 — go on to win the Euram Bank Open, he would receive and automatic promotion onto the European Tour by virtue of a three-win season.
Play was suspended at 7:32 pm on Day One as thunderstorms moved in over Golf Club Adamstal. The first round will conclude tomorrow morning at 7:30am and starting times for Day Two will remain the same.

SCOTS' SCORES
Par 70
-5 after 15 holes Calum Hill
66 David Law
67 Duncan Stewart
68 Scott Henry
69 Robert MacIntyre, Jack McDonald
71 Paul Shields
72 Jack Doherty
74 Grant Forrest
77 Fraser Moore, Ross Kellett


TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD

                                                 

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