16 year-old Austin Crowder from Greenwood fired an opening
round of 5-under-par 67 today at the IGA Match Play Championship held at
Hillview CC. Crowder claimed the number
two seed heading into the match play portion of competition, behind last year’s
Champion Matt Spicuzza, who was automatically seeded first.
“I wasn’t hitting any fairways today but I was on fire with
my putter,” said Crowder, a rising junior at Center Grove High School. “The highlight of my round today was on my
very first hole, number ten. I pushed my
iron shot to the right, but hit a great flop shot in for birdie, which got me
off to a great start.”
Crowder’s round consisted of six birdies coming on the par
5, 2nd hole, the par 4, 3rd, the par 4, 5th,
the par 5, 7th, the par 3, 10th, and the par 4, 12th. He only carded one bogey today on the par 4,
4th hole.
“It feels great to be seeded second,” Crowder said. “My goal tomorrow is to make a lot of birdies
and play like I did today. If I do that
it should be a lot of fun.”
Spicuzza will face the number 32 seed, Sam Hardwick in
tomorrow morning’s match. Crowder will
play the number 31 seed, Tim Fish. Match
Play will begin tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m.