Newsmaker of the month: Harrison Crowe
As is the modern way, the worldwide awareness of Aussie amateur Harrison Crowe came via a viral video posted by Erik Anders Lang of Random Golf Club Films that at last count boasted 271,000 views.
It showed Crowe recreating a shot from the pavement in front of the Dunvegan Hotel to the 18th green of the Old Course at St Andrews, a shot that, legend has it, was first executed by Ernie Els.
That video resurfaced in late October when Crowe’s victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand secured him a start in two of the game’s most treasured championships in 2023.
After a difficult front nine in the final round at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok, the 21-year-old from Sydney wrested momentum back his way with three straight birdies from the 11th hole. He regained a share of the lead with a birdie at 15 but dropped one stroke behind when he bogeyed 16.
The tide soon turned again, however, when China’s Bo Jin found the water at the par-3 17th, Crowe’s par turning a one-shot deficit into a one-stroke lead. He made a brilliant up-and-down on the 72nd hole for par and a one-shot win, joining Antonio Murdaca (2014) and Curtis Luck (2016) as the only Australian winners of the Asia-Pacific Amateur.
Crowe’s plans to turn professional are now on hold as he awaits an official invitation to play in the Masters at Augusta National and plots a return to the UK for the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
“It’s an extremely good reason not to turn professional right at this minute,” said Crowe, who also won the New South Wales Open in March. “When I wake up in the morning, it’s going to be pretty surreal knowing I’ll be playing in the Masters and The Open.”
[Photo by Getty Images: Octavio Passos]
Headliners
Richard Green: The Victorian left-hander further strengthened his claim as Australia’s best male player over 50, winning the NSW Senior Open and Nova Employment Australian PGA Seniors Championship in successive weeks on the SParms PGA Legends Tour.
Royal Melbourne Golf Club: The No.1 golf club in the country was announced as the host venue of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship from October 26-29, nine years after it first hosted the region’s best amateurs.
David Micheluzzi: Made four birdies in his final six holes to record a three-stroke win at the WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie, his first win on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Deyen Lawson: Saw an eight-stroke lead all but evaporate across a nervy back nine before holding on for a two-shot win at the Nexus Advisernet WA Open at the Western Australian Golf Club in Perth.
Cameron Pollard: The Sawtell Golf Club product continued his dominance of the Australian All Abilities circuit, winning the WA PGA, WA Open and NSW Inclusive Championship in the lead-up to the Australian All Abilities Championship.
Kogarah Golf Club: Informed its 800 or so members that it would be amalgamating with Liverpool Golf Club in Sydney’s south-west, the Kogarah golf course to be redeveloped into a five-storey logistics and warehouse hub alongside a 12-storey tourist accommodation tower and an eight-storey office and retail building.
Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur: The Australian team of Sue Wooster (Vic), Nadene Gole (Vic), Jacqui Morgan (NSW), Mark Allen (Vic), Greg Rhodes (Vic), Ken Brewer (NSW) and Ian Frost (Qld) were set to contest the Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur in Malaysia from November 22-24, the first time women have been included in the event.
Karen Lunn: The chief executive of the WPGA was announced as the new chair of the Australian Golf Industry Council, the first woman to be elected to the position.
Order of Merit winners: Jack Buchanan (SA, men’s), Justice Bosio (Qld, women’s), Joseph Buttress (WA, boys’), Sarah Hammett (Qld, girls’), Greg Rhodes (Vic, senior men’s) and Sue Wooster (Vic, senior women’s) were announced as Golf Australia’s Order of Merit winners for 2022.
Sue Wooster: The prolific seniors winner claimed a historic third consecutive Australian Senior Amateur title at Launceston Golf Club as fellow Victorian, James Lavender, won his first.
Five Mile Beach: Its big brother – Seven Mile Beach – is not due to open until December 2023, yet plans have been lodged to add a second course next door at Five Mile Beach, both layouts just 20 minutes from the centre of Hobart.
