The COVID-19 pandemic shook up senior Jack Crosby’s summer tournament schedule.  The Furman golfer found himself playing in random, hastily organized, pop-up events for much of the early summer. Even as normal tournaments began again in July, Crosby acknowledged the difficulty of getting to a rhythm: “it was definitely weird and a bit of a challenge.”

Despite the difficult and unexpected circumstances, Crosby and the Furman men’s golf team found success when Crosby won the 105th Tennessee State Amateur on Aug. 7. He shot a four-round total of 14-under-274 to win by three strokes over runner-up William Nottingham at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn.

“[Winning] this event allows me to go down in the archives of the state’s golf history,” Crosby said following his victory. Having competed in the Tennessee State Amateur tournament four times already, this win was the culmination of years of hard work.  Crosby had the chance to play all four rounds with other college players, many of whom he grew up playing with in high school golf, making this year’s triumph even more special.

When asked what helped him get over the hump and win this year, Crosby reflected on his unconventional summer experience. In June, he had the chance to play a casual round of golf with former PGA Tour star Loren Roberts, who passed along some important advice that stuck with Crosby as he battled for this year’s title. “Know what makes you tick on and off the course, and be aware of your breathing and tempo,” Crosby shared. “I have a tendency to rush a little bit before the round and out on the course, but I kept his advice in mind all week and it really helped me slow down and be conscious of my breathing.”

Crosby’s win is reflective of a bigger trend within the Furman men’s golf program. In his words, “Excitement and energy have really been building around the program over the past couple years,” and this win will only contribute to that. Crosby’s victory at a major regional tournament will allow Furman to continue to attract top talent.

Crosby expressed great thanks for the support of his teammates. “They and [Furman men’s coach] Matt Davidson were the first to reach out after the win. It’s been awesome having their support and excitement with all of this,” he said. He also noted that he and his fellow teammates all plan on playing two or three individual events this fall when possible, perhaps some more “Din wins” are on the horizon!

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