Western’s Crawford has second hole-in-one

It had never happened in coach Steve Card’s 20 years as head coach of the Western Washington University men’s golf team.

Craig Crawford, a junior from Stanwood, had done it once before, just never this easily.

Crawford’s hole-in-one during the 16th hole of last week’s Chico State Invitational marked the first time Card had ever had one of his WWU golfers ace a hole, the second time Crawford had ever holed out off the tee, and the first time Crawford ever did it on a par-3. Crawford, who attended Highland Christian High School in Arlington, last aced a hole while playing in a scramble at Avalon Golf Course in Burlington — on a 305-yard par-4.

This time, Crawford only had to conquer a 192-yard par-3 at Sevillano Links in Corning, Calif. Having struggled to a 6-over-par through the first 15 holes, Crawford ignored the nearby water on the right side of the green, just past the hole, and went for the ace on No. 16.

“I threw my (6-iron) club up in the air because I was so excited,” he said of last week’s hole-in-one. “Watching the ball go in from that far, it doesn’t happen often.”

Crawford finished with a 4-over 76 to help the Vikings finish third as a team.