Spring Mill’s Crawford caps U.S. Open Qualifier at Moselem Springs

  FLEETWOOD, Pa. — Christopher Crawford capped a sensational collegiate career this spring. The Drexel University senior won two events (eight total in four years) and earned All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team honors for the third straight year. | Scorecards | Photo gallery |

  Although one golfing chapter is closed, the rest is open and accruing more script. Crawford, an amateur out of Spring Mill Country Club, carded a 4-under-par 66 to earn medalist honors in a U.S. Open Local Qualifier administered by the Golf Association of Philadelphia at Moselem Springs Golf Club (par 70, 6,801 yards). He secured one of six available spots.

  Professionals Alex Blickle, Steven Delmar and Brent Studer also qualified in regulation Thursday. Amateur Cole Miller of New Tripoli, Pa. and David Quinn, head professional and general manager of Links Golf Club, emerged from a six-for-two playoff with birdies to advance.

  The 116th U.S. Open will take place June 13-19 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.

  “I felt pretty good today. I just played really well,” Crawford, 22, of Bensalem, Pa., said. “I took about a week off after the [Drexel] season was over just to kind of decompress. I didn’t play so well last week, but just kept practicing to get ready for today. I really like this golf course. I’ve played it maybe four or five times. It’s pure. I like it.”

  Three straight birdies to start showcased Crawford’s affection for Moselem’s rolling terrain. On No. 10 (par 4, 397 yards), he knocked a sand wedge 110 yards to 10 feet below the flagstick — a frequent and essential position throughout the day. Standing under a tree on the next hole (par 4, 443 yards), Crawford hooded an 8-iron 155 yards and watched it chase to four feet. The reigning Joseph H. Patterson Cup Champion mixed power with putting proficiency on No. 12 (par 5, 506 yards). He thumped a 4-iron 215 yards and two-putted for birdie. Crawford also added red on Nos. 1 (par 4, 401 yards) and 4 (par 4, 375 yards). He hit a wedge 85 yards to a foot on the first, 75 yards to 17 feet on the latter.

  Crawford’s lone blemish occurred on No. 18 (par 4, 444 yards). A wayward 3-wood off the tee created a trying angle left. Crawford caught the front bunker with his approach and failed to get up-and-down. It marked one of three missed greens on the day.

  Crawford missed out on the Sectional stage a year ago by a stroke. He will now head to Canoe Brook (North and South Courses) in Summit, N.J. on June 6.

  Crawford, in a five-year accounting program at Drexel, completed his final year of athletic eligibility. During his tenure as an on-course Dragon, he became the school’s first-ever CAA Men’s Golfer of the Year in 2014. He is an 11-time CAA Golfer of the Week. Crawford led the Dragons in 2015-16 with a 71.8 stroke average.

  “[Completing my college career] was a weird feeling. I won’t know how weird it is until September,” Crawford said. “I’m happy with what I’ve done.”

  Delmar, 28, of Gaithersburg, Md., is an assistant men’s golf coach at the University of Maryland. Studer, 51, of Manasquan, N.J., is the Director of Golf at Metedeconk National Golf Club. He’s reached Sectional qualifying 12 times in the last 25 years. Studer’s lone U.S. Open appearance came in 1994 at Oakmont.

  “It was really cool,” he said. “Back then it wasn’t as long as a golf course as it is now. I missed the cut by a shot or two. I’m actually going back in a couple weeks with some friends from Callaway Golf.”

  Blickle, 23, of Reinholds, Pa., posted a 1-under-par 69 to advance to Sectional qualifying for the first time. He spent the winter competing on the Florida Professional Golf Tour. Blickle plans on playing in GPro Tour events this summer while remaining in his native Berks County.

  “Today was a battle,” he said. “I didn’t have it in the early going. I was 2 over thru the first three holes and it felt like I deserved to be 2 over. It wasn’t like I got a bad break.”

  The start contrasted Blickle’s practice round yesterday; he birdied the first three.

  The Golf Association of Philadelphia will administer a second U.S. Open Local Qualifier on Monday, May 16 at Silver Creek Country Club.

NOTES
  Fog caused an hour and a half delay.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 153 Full Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.