NewsDay
By Daniel Nhakaniso
1 September 2012
Talented United States-based Zimbabwean junior golfer Sean Crocker’s continued rise on the US circuit continued this week after jumping 33 places on the prestigious American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Polo Golf Rankings from position 67 to a credible 34.
The AJGA which is open to junior golfers between the ages of 12 and 18 and 15-year-old Crocker is ranked as the ninth best player throughout the US at the moment in the Under-16 category.
Crocker, who is the son of Bulawayo-born former Zimbabwe Test cricketer Gary Crocker, owed his rapid rise on the standings on the back of two consecutive second place finishes on the AJGA Junior Tour in August.
The California-based golf prodigy finished in a tie for second place at the AJGA Junior at Fox Hill on August 6 before finishing alone in second place in the AJGA Junior at Robinson Ranch on August 13.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart used his Twitter account to congratulate Crocker who graduates from high school in 2014.
Coltart believes Crocker could be one of the country’s representatives at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when golf becomes an Olympic sport.
“Zimbabwean Sean Crocker, son of former Zimbabwe Test cricketer Gary Crocker, has leaped to 34th on the American Junior Golf Association Polo golf rankings!
“He is about to go to a US university on a sports scholarship. He flies the Zimbabwe flag at all tournaments he plays in. This is the ranking for all junior golfers under the age of 18 and he is now 9th ranked in his division of 16 year olds throughout the USA!
“This lad is one of the most exciting golfing prospects Zimbabwe has produced in the last few years. He is receiving regular support and coaching from Zimbabwe’s golfing great Nick Price. He will be eligible to play for Zimbabwe in the Rio Olympics in 2016, said Coltart.
In July Crocker lifted the country’s flag high by finishing an impressive 16th out of 200 hopefuls at the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, California.
The promising young player will have two more cracks at the same tournament until he turns 18 and with the way he is going, it won’t be a surprise if he follows the footsteps of his mentor and fellow countryman, the legendary Nick Price who won the same tourney in 1974 aged 17.