- NCGA photo

Crawford’s round included six birdies and two bogeys as he fired a 34 on each nine. Starting off with a bogey after the par-4 second, the 20-year-old then rolled-in three birdies on Nos. 5, 6 and 8. The Redwood City resident then made a birdie on No. 10, before taking a bogey on No. 14, but closed with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18.

“I was just hitting my clubs the right distances,” said Crawford. “I try not to think too much, I was playing pretty mindlessly.”

Going into tomorrow with the lead he’ll try once again not to overthink his game and will go in with a fresh start.

“I wouldn’t say I need to carry any momentum over to tomorrow,” he said. “Hitting the first tee shot on the first hole is the only thing I can focus on.”

Jason Anthony is currently in a tie for second place after a first round of three-under-par 69.Also playing in the morning wave and posting sub-70 rounds were Jason Anthony and Andrej Bevins, who are currently tied for second. Anthony of Fairfield was the early clubhouse leader posting his three-under-par 69 an hour before Bevins. The 30-year-old mid-amateur had five birdies and two bogeys in his round, with most of his action occurring on the back nine. After making a single birdie and bogey on the front nine, Anthony would make four birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 16 and 17 with his lone bogey coming on the par-4 12th.

Bevins, the recently graduated high school senior, fired his three-under-par 69 thanks to seven birdies on his card. However, despite his plethora of birdies, the 18-year-old also had four bogeys. Starting off No. 10, Bevins countered birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 with bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 to turn at 36. Then on his back nine, the 2012 Hanna-Wehrman Cup team member made five birdies on Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 with his bogeys coming on the sixth and ninth. Bevins attributed his solid play in part due to an affinity for the course.

“I like this course, it’s neat,” he said. “It’s a good challenge, you have to hit some good shots and work the ball.”

Defending champion Ben Geyer finds himself in nice position after Friday’s first round with a score of two-under-par 70 to tie for fourth. The 2012 NCGA Player of the Year had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on Friday, for the same opening round score he posted last year.

Joining him in fourth place at two-under-par 70 is Gary Dunn, who posted the low round of the afternoon. The 38-year-old from Granite Bay, who started off the No. 10 tee, traded his birdie on No. 13 for a bogey on No. 14 to turn at 36. Then on the back nine, Dunn opened with a bogey on the par-5 first, before making birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 7 to finish with a 34 on his back nine.

Other players to post under-par scores Friday were Cody Robinson, Mike Stieler and Amay Poria who each fired a one-under-par 71. Robinson and Stieler’s round came in the morning, while Poria posted his in the afternoon.

Tomorrow’s second round will again be a double-wave of tee times with the players reversing roles (Friday morning players going out in the afternoon, and Friday afternoon players teeing off in the morning). At the conclusion of Saturday’s second round the top 40 and ties will advance to Sunday’s final round. Currently, 48 players are at three-over-par or better.