Jake Crosson didn’t want to “screw up” his chances after a solid first day.
Hunter Logan knew he had a little more work to do after his initial round, but he also realized anything could happen in uncertain weather.
Despite rainy and windy conditions and a wet course, Crosson and Logan didn’t screw things up and made the most of their two rounds at the Patrick Farms Golf Club in Pearl.
As a result, Crosson and Logan earned two of the four boys qualifying spots for the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship on Aug. 7-10 at the Annandale Golf Club in Madison.
Crosson, a rising senior at New Hope High School, finished first in the A Division with a 5-under-par 103, while Logan, a rising junior at Caledonia High, tied for third with a 2-under 106.
Matt Liddon and Jack Gnam will join Crosson and Logan in the nation’s largest junior stroke-play golf tournament. The event, which started in 1969 as a community service project devised by Independent Insurance Agents, will feature some of the nation’s top junior golfers.
“I was just shooting to try to qualify (for the Big I),” Crosson said. “I knew if I shot even rounds both days it would be good enough. Of course I want to win every tournament, but the main priority was to qualify for the next big tournament.”
Crosson put himself in position to qualify by shooting a 68 in the first round. He said he played a practice Monday prior to Tuesday’s opening round, so he knew he could have a good day. His confidence proved to be correct, as he had five birdies on the back nine.
Unfortunately, weather limited the players to nine holes in the second round. Paired with Liddon, who also shot a 68 in the opening round, Crosson said he believed he had a good chance to win as long as he didn’t “screw up.”
“It put a little bit of pressure on me, but I knew I had to capitalize on some of the holes out there,” Crosson said. “I knew (Liddon) could put up just as many birdies as I could. I knew I had a really good chance. That is what I ended up doing. Unfortunately, the other guy had one bad hole (a double bogey on No. 4), but he was still able to recover from that.”
Crosson said he started his second round with a bogey but regrouped to shoot back-to-back birdies. With a one-shot lead entering the final hole on No. 9, Crosson carded a par thanks to a second shot that put him 10 feet from the hole.
“The Big I is going to be the biggest tournament I am going to play in this year, so it is definitely one I wanted to qualify for,” said Crosson, who was the individual medalist earlier this year at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A State meet.
Logan also was an individual state champion this past season for Caledonia High, which won its second-consecutive state title. He admitted the weather didn’t make things easier for golfers at the Patrick Farms Golf Club and that the wet conditions made the course longer and harder. Still, he said he was able to overcome the wind and move up a couple of spots to qualify for the Big I.
“They told us about an hour before (the second round started) that everyone had to do their best to shoot nine holes, so I knew I had to post a good score to give myself a chance to qualify,” Logan said. “I had to play a little more aggressive knowing we were playing half the holes.”
Logan started at No. 1 and responded by carding an eagle, a birdie, and seven pars. He said he didn’t know he qualified until he turned in his scorecard.
“It is an honor to be able to play in it,” Logan said. “I am going to have to practice for the next couple of months so I am ready for it when it comes around.”
Logan said he will play in Mississippi Junior Golf Association (MJGA) events and play plenty of practice rounds to stay sharp for the Big I.
Earlier this month, Crosson tied for 22nd at the State Amateur at Canebreak Country Club in Hattiesburg. Crosson shot rounds of 66, 72, and 76 for a total of 214.
Former Oak Hill Academy standout Hunter Atkins tied for 26th with a 216. He carded a low round of 70 on the final day.
Crosson said he learned a lot from playing in the longest tournament of his career. After shooting a 5-under on the first day, Crosson admitted he wasn’t as focused as he needed to be on the final two days. He said that lesson will help him when he competes at the Big I.
“I guess because I shot 5-under the first day I thought I didn’t really have to think about it as much, but obviously I should have thought about it some more and stayed focused,” Crosson said.
“I definitely can take my experience from it and learn from it in bigger tournaments next time. I know how to prepare myself for it and how to stay focused throughout the rounds.”
Crosson said he will compete next month in the Pros of Tomorrow event at Tupelo Country Country Club and in the Boys and Girls Junior Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point.
Tracey Cockerham, of Hamilton, tied for 36th with a 218 and Starkville’s Richard Reed tied for 41st (219) at the State Amateur.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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