Crowe Denied by Eduard in Tense NSW Amateur Final

Sydney, Australia: Harrison Crowe’s bid to retain his New South Wales Amateur title fell agonisingly short.

The reigning Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner suffered a surprise 2&1 loss to Abel Eduard in a thrilling final at Pennant Hills.

Crowe’s focus now turns to Augusta National and his appearance in April’s Masters Tournament, courtesy of his AAC triumph in Thailand last October.

The 21-year-old Crowe won the New South Wales Amateur crown title in commanding style at Links Shell Cove last year, triggering a sensational 12 months in which he also won his state Open Championship at Concord to join Jim Ferrier as the only two players to hold the NSW Open and Amateur concurrently.

Victory against Eduard would have seen Crowe become just the 10th man to repeat as NSW Amateur champion and the first since legendary amateur Colin Kaye in 1977 to do so.

However, the St Michaels’ member, 24th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), endured a frustrating day when his putter turned cold.

Eduard, a member at Kew and Kingston Heath in Melbourne, had never before contested a major amateur final but was far from daunted at facing off against Crowe.

With a birdie at the 20th hole of their 36-hole match, Eduard gained the initiative. He then won three holes on the trot from the 22nd to establish what proved to be a match-winning lead.

Crowe fought back by winning the 28th and 29th holes, but it was not enough against an opponent who began the week in 1,762nd spot in the WAGR.

Kingston Heath member Eduard, aged 19, said: “It was really good to play well in a big final after a big week, too. And to do it against ‘Crowey’ is extra special because we all know how well he’s been playing.”

In the women’s final, 16-year-old Shyla Singh defeated fellow Gold Coaster Godiva Kim to atone for her loss in last year’s final to good friend Sarah Hammett.

Following her 4&3 success against 14-year-old Kim, Singh said: “That hurt a bit. I probably played better in last year’s final to be honest, but I was more consistent today and that’s what mattered. I was really attacking in the morning round and made a lot of birdies, but I also made too many bogeys.

“So I changed tactics during the break and in the afternoon just played a little more (conservatively) … and it paid off.”