GOLF prodigy, Sean Crocker is on course to becoming the first ever Zimbabwe-born amateur golfer to represent the United States in the Walker Cup competition after he was included in their 16-man provisional squad for the prestigious competition to be held in September next year.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The Walker Cup is a Ryder Cup-style competition, where the top amateur golfers from Great Britain and Ireland go up against the top amateur golfers from the United States.
Next year’s edition of the biannual competition will be played at the Los Angeles Country Club on September 9 and 10.
Crocker was last week officially invited by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to participate in the competition’s practice sessions in preparation for the event.
In the official invitation seen by NewsDay Sport, the USGA, which is responsible for selecting the team, said: “We are pleased to inform you that USGA considers you a candidate for the 2017 United States Walker Cup Team. As a candidate, the USGA would like to invite you to participate in a Walker Cup practice session. The practice session will include 16 players and take place at Los Angeles Country Club, December 14 to 18. All expenses related to your participation will be covered by the USGA.”
The 10-man USA team will be finalised following the US Amateur Championship in August and Crocker is one of the favourites to secure a spot in the team after a phenomenal year both individually and with the University of Southern California (USC).
At number 15 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Crocker is the fourth highest-ranked player invited to attend next month’s practice session for the 2017 Walker Cup.
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Last year, he reached the semifinals of the US Amateur Championship, where he lost to eventual champion, Bryson DeChambeau, now a professional golfer on the US PGA Tour.
He won the Monroe Invitational in June, posting a final round of 63 to take the title in addition to second place finishes at the Northeast Amateur and the Sahalee Players Championship.
Crocker’s form earned him selection into the Zimbabwe team for the World Amateur Team Championships, but he withdrew citing academic commitments at the USC, where is on a golf scholarship.
Crocker was born in Harare and learned golf from his father Gary, who, besides being a top amateur golfer, also played in three Tests and six one-day internationals from 1992 to 1993 for Zimbabwe as a professional cricket player.
Gary said the selection for the Walker Cup could see his son delay his plans of turning professional in May next year.
“This is a very exciting development for Sean. Initially he was thinking of turning pro after NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Championships in May next year, but depending on this event, he will delay that decision if he gets into the team,” he said.
