Amateur Harrison Crowe takes NSW Open title
Harrison Crowe with his trophy – photo Golf NSW
20-year-old New South Wales golfer, Harrison Crowe, became the third amateur in recent memory to win the NSW Open Championship after the weather shortened event was completed today at the Concord Golf Club in the inner west of Sydney.
The last amateur to win the title was Victoria’s Ben Eccles at Stone Cutter’s Ridge in Sydney’s west in 2015 and in 2006 West Australian Rick Kulacz won at Moore Park in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Crowe, who shared the lead through 36 holes, held off a spirited late challenge from his fellow New South Welshman, Blake Windred, to win the title and open to door to a possible professional career as success this week would provide access to the PGA Tour of Australasia over the next two years should he decide on that path.
For Harrison it completes an outstanding few months, having won the Master of the Amateurs and the NSW Amateur Championship in January and the Victorian Amateur Championship late in 2021.
Crowe began the final round tied with Victorian Blake Collyer but with an outward nine of 30 he raced to the lead and although he would bogey the 10th he was able to hold onto defeat Windred by one, after Windred had put together a final round of 64, 30 minutes ahead of the final group.
Windred, though, will receive the first place cheque of $72,000 given the still amateur status of the winner.
“I can’t describe it,” said Crowe. “So good. I really actually settled down after about six. I felt all right after the first tee shot and really knuckled down. Then to turn five-under (par), but not getting up-and-down on 11 kind of creeped me a little bit, and 17 and 18 I’ve never been so nervous in my life.”
Crowe was not giving anything away in terms of a possible switch to the professional ranks.
“It’s something to think about,” he said. “I don’t want to try and dwell on it too much now. I think I’m going enjoy my night. I’ve got an early flight tomorrow which I won’t be crash hot for out to Adelaide. It’s something to talk over with the parents, the coaches, team, and go from there.”
