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GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Clayton Crawford's golf game was understandably rusty following a two-plus week basketball and cultural trip to Europe in June.
Since returning home, the Aspen sophomore has devoted the bulk of his time to practicing in an effort to regain his form on the links. If Wednesday's effort at Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs is any indication, Crawford will be ready when the high school season kicks off in just a few weeks.
He carded a 5-under par round of 67 in the Tour in the Rockies event, good for a 10-shot victory.
“I'm getting better,” Crawford said Thursday afternoon. “Actually, on the range before the round I wasn't hitting the ball well. I wasn't really sure how it was going to turn out, but it seemed to work out.”
And quickly.
He sank a 10-foot putt at the short, par-4 first. After consecutive pars, he reached the green at the par-5 fourth in two after a well-struck 5-iron and drained a 15-foot eagle putt. He bogeyed the par-3 sixth after his tee shot flew short and left of the green, but Crawford rebounded at seven with a well-placed 5-iron off the tee, a pitching wedge to the green and an accurate birdie putt from just outside 10 feet.
He made the turn at 3 under.
“I was putting well and driving well,” Crawford remarked.
That consistency continued on the back nine. He bogeyed the 10th after a poor chip from behind the green, but sank a downhill 20-footer for birdie at the Par-3 11th.
He reached the fringe of the green in two at the long par-5 13th and two-putted to reach 4 under. After a par at 14, he hit the shot of the day at the par-3 15th; his tee shot came to rest mere inches from the cup.
“I thought it had spun off a ridge to the left, but it ended up being good,” Crawford said. “It had to have been
2 inches from going in the hole.”
He parred the final three holes to finish with 67 — the lowest round ever recorded in a Tour in the Rockies event, according to Aspen Junior Golf Executive Director Alden Richards.
“I'm feeling good [about my game]. I've put in a lot of practice the last couple weeks,” Crawford said. “If I keep doing that, hopefully I'll keep playing this well.”
jmaletz@aspentimes.com
Since returning home, the Aspen sophomore has devoted the bulk of his time to practicing in an effort to regain his form on the links. If Wednesday's effort at Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs is any indication, Crawford will be ready when the high school season kicks off in just a few weeks.
He carded a 5-under par round of 67 in the Tour in the Rockies event, good for a 10-shot victory.
“I'm getting better,” Crawford said Thursday afternoon. “Actually, on the range before the round I wasn't hitting the ball well. I wasn't really sure how it was going to turn out, but it seemed to work out.”
And quickly.
He sank a 10-foot putt at the short, par-4 first. After consecutive pars, he reached the green at the par-5 fourth in two after a well-struck 5-iron and drained a 15-foot eagle putt. He bogeyed the par-3 sixth after his tee shot flew short and left of the green, but Crawford rebounded at seven with a well-placed 5-iron off the tee, a pitching wedge to the green and an accurate birdie putt from just outside 10 feet.
He made the turn at 3 under.
“I was putting well and driving well,” Crawford remarked.
That consistency continued on the back nine. He bogeyed the 10th after a poor chip from behind the green, but sank a downhill 20-footer for birdie at the Par-3 11th.
He reached the fringe of the green in two at the long par-5 13th and two-putted to reach 4 under. After a par at 14, he hit the shot of the day at the par-3 15th; his tee shot came to rest mere inches from the cup.
“I thought it had spun off a ridge to the left, but it ended up being good,” Crawford said. “It had to have been
2 inches from going in the hole.”
He parred the final three holes to finish with 67 — the lowest round ever recorded in a Tour in the Rockies event, according to Aspen Junior Golf Executive Director Alden Richards.
“I'm feeling good [about my game]. I've put in a lot of practice the last couple weeks,” Crawford said. “If I keep doing that, hopefully I'll keep playing this well.”
jmaletz@aspentimes.com
Tour in the Rockies
Wednesday's results, 12 & Older
Ironbridge Golf Club Boys 18-hole division Score Crawford, Clayton 67 Rohrbaugh, Tristan 77 So, August 79 Fine, Liam 81 Kistner, Joseph 87 Hooper, Keegan 90 Martin, Patrick 102 Allan, Cameron 102 Kistner, James 108 Tierney, Matt 125 Boys, Chris DiMarco (9-Hole) Division Klump, Parker 49 Wirth, Michael 53 Pettit, Robert 53 Principe, JR 57 Pember, Will 63 Hollenback, Cole 65 O'Brien, Mike 67 Kleager, Holden 68 Kleager, Linc 69 Kennedy, Hayes 71 Girls, Christie Kerr (9-Hole) Division Murphy, Lauren 56 Sharaf, Dolores 69 Sharaf, Mae 69 Tuesday's results, 11 and younger Ranch at Roaring Fork Rory McIlroy Division Principe, J.R. 35 Pevny, Jack 40 RIgney Matthew 46 Holmes, Dawson 51 Chris Dimarco Division Zwieg, Coulter 39 Lampe, Mac 50 Buysse, Alex 51 Pevny, Nic 56 Welsh,Ryan 56 Lee, Lucas 60 Kendrick, Cooper 67 Paula Creamer Division Murphy, Lauren 32 Sharaf, Mae 50 Murphy, Sarah 57 Blizzard, Nikki 58 |
