Opener buoys Crabbe
CURLEWIS golfer Mitch Crabbe says he will take plenty of confidence into the remainder of the Victorian Junior Open after posting a threeunder round of 69 yesterday.
Playing on the renowned Beach course at Thirteenth Beach, Crabbe started his round with a birdie on the 10th tee and went out in 33 for his first nine holes.
Two more birdies on the second and seventh holes — his 11th and 16th holes respectively — had him tied for the lead with two to play, but the 16-year-old found trouble on the par-4 eighth and registered a double-bogey.
Despite sitting two shots off joint leaders Jackson Kalz and Adam Thorp, Crabbe said he was excited about switching to the Creek course for today’s second round, where Kalz and Thorp played on Monday.
“It was pretty good, I got off to a solid start and then on the back nine I just tried to play smart,” Crabbe said.
“I definitely got one of the harder courses today so it should be good the next couple of days at the Creek course and then Barwon Heads.
“It definitely helps going into a tournament knowing what you’re doing and being familiar with the course.”
Crabbe, who plays pennant golf at Commonwealth, said the Creek course was much more suited to his game.
“The Creek course doesn’t have as much tea-tree around, it’s a lot more open and you can stand up and just use the driver,” he said.
“But after a good score today you’re just looking to shoot around par and not try to think about things too much.”
More than 180 junior golfers from around Australia and the world are competing in the Victorian Junior Open, with players competing at the two Thirteenth Beach courses and Barwon Heads for the first three days, before the fields will be cut for the final round on the Beach course on Thursday.