Franks Bows Out of U.S. Amateur in Round of 16

*Photo courtesy of USGA/Kathryn Riley*

PARAMUS, N.J. — Rising sophomore Nathan Franks fell in extra holes in the round of 16 at the 122^nd U.S. Amateur late on Thursday. Ben Carr, an All-American this past season at Georgia Southern, birdied the first extra hole to advance. It was just Carr’s second birdie of the match.

Franks jumped out to an early 2-up lead thanks to a couple early red numbers on his scorecard. He led 1-up at the turn. Carr rallied and took a 2-up lead thru 14 holes. Franks fought right back though with a birdie at the par-3 15^th and another win at the par-4 16^th to tie the match. Both players birdied the par-5 17^th and made par at the 18^th to send it to extra holes.

It’s the furthest any Gamecock has made it in the U.S. Amateur since 2015 when three-time All-American Matt NeSmith played in the round of 32, falling to eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau.

In the round of 32, Franks defeated Australia’s Connor McKinney 1-up. He trailed most of the back nine and won holes 16 and 17 to take the lead down the stretch. In the round 64, he won 3&2 over Tyler Stahle (Andover, Mass.).

Franks earned the No. 18 seed for match play after finishing T-14^th in the 311-man stroke play field. He shot 1-over with scores of 71 (+1) at Arcola Country Club in the opening round and another 71 (E) in round two at The Ridgewood Country Club, both of which are located in Paramus, 20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan.

A Roebuck, S.C., native, Franks is entering his second season in Garnet and Black. He became a mainstay in the team’s lineup as a freshman and finished the season with a 72.60 scoring average in 30 rounds played (10 events).

Full results and scoring from the U.S. Amateur can be found on the USGA’s website by clicking here.

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