HIGHLY rated Zimbabwean amateur golfer Sean Crocker has been rewarded for his recent success in the US. He has received a tournament invitation to play at this week’s European Tour’s BMW International Open, which always attracts some of the world’s best professional golfers.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The event is scheduled to start on Thursday at the Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof just outside Cologne. It will mark Crocker’s first appearance in a professional event since his Zimbabwe Open debut four years ago.
Swedish star Henrik Stenson is the defending champion, having won last year with a three-shot victory to take his second title at the event. He had also finished as runner-up for the past two seasons.
Crocker, who is based in Los Angeles, left a positive impression on his last appearance in Europe after racing to an impressive five-shot victory at the Italian International Amateur in Lecce, Italy.
The 20 year-old rising star, who is being tipped to follow in the footsteps of Zimbabwean legends Nick Price, Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty is currently ranked the sixth best amateur on the Official World Golf Rankings.
He will be one of only three amateur golfers in the BMW International Open field together with Germans Thomas Rosenmüller and Max Schmitt.
This week’s participation in the BMW International Open will set in motion a busy schedule for young Crocker, who is planning to join the professional ranks after the 2017 United States Amateur Championship in August.
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From Germany, Crocker heads to England for the International European Amateur Championship at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey from June 28 to July 1 before returning to Germany for the Porsche European Open to be played at Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg from July 27 to 30.
Crocker’s father, Gary, the former national team cricketer told Standardsport in an exclusive interview that in-between the busy schedule they were planning a family visit to Zimbabwe.
“We will all be coming home to our beautiful country, Zimbabwe for two whole weeks to see everyone and enjoy the Zambezi a little. Sean will be practicing at Royal Harare and Chapman while he is there to prepare for the Porsche European Open,” he said.
Crocker, who has been attracting interest from several top agents and management firms around the world, is set to sign with the Switzerland-based Impact Point AG, which manages Masters champion Sergio Garcia.
