Earlier this month, Ben Carr was an emotional mess, questioning whether he really belonged in the world of big-time competitive golf. Now, after a runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur Championship, the Columbus native realizes he deserves a seat at the table.
Carr, a fifth-year senior at Georgia Southern, was disheartened when he returned home after placing 52nd at the Western Amateur, an event that draws most of the best college golfers and amateurs in the country.
“I came home and sat with my mom (Leila) and brother (Sackett) and just had a total meltdown,” he said. “I just didn’t think I was good enough to do something like this. I just remember saying, ‘I can’t compete with these guys.’ Just in that moment, I didn’t believe it. Slowly this week, I learned that I can. It just gives me so much confidence. It’s going to help me moving forward.”
Ben Carr wasn’t more than a blip on the radar when the U.S. Amateur started. But he easily made his way past the two stroke-play qualifying rounds by tying for 30th and elevated his game during head-to-head competition.
In match play, he defeated Jake Holbrook of the University of Oklahoma 7 and 5, beat 34-year-old graphic designer Andrew Von Lossow of Washington 1 up, defeated Nathan Franks of the University of South Carolina in 19 holes, beat Alex Price of NCAA Division III Christopher Newport University 2 and 1 and defeated Derek Hitchner of Pepperdine 3 and 2 in the semifinal.
Carr lost to Sam Bennett of Texas A&M 1 up in the championship match. He was 5 down through 22 holes but changed the momentum with a 66-foot birdie putt on No. 23 and a 62-foot chip-in birdie on No. 24. Carr battled and extended the match to the 36th hole. Both players parred the final hole to give the match to Bennett.
Among the goodies that come with the runner-up finish is an invitation to the Masters and an exemption into the U.S. Open.
“It means a lot,” he said. “It’s pretty cool. I’ve never played in a professional event. It’s just really cool.”
Carr was trying to become the first Georgian to win the U.S. Am since Steve Melnyk in 1969 and the first Georgia Southern player since Buddy Alexander in 1986.
Two share honors at U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier
Christian Raynor of Kennesaw and Franco Castro of Smyrna each shot 67 to earn co-medalist honors at the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier at Reynolds Lake Oconee−The National Course.
Dalton Melnyk of Atlanta shot 68 and Todd Eaker of Lawrenceville and Dillon Humphrey of Roswell both shot 70 to earn the other spots. Michael Blechschmidt of Mableton and Chris Waters of Atlanta are the two alternates. Cates Culpepper of Columbus qualified as an alternate at the Montgomery (Ala.) Country Club.
The 41st U.S. Mid Am is scheduled Sept. 10-15 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.
Nine Georgians in U.S. Senior Amateur field
Former champions Bob Royak of Alpharetta and Doug Hanzel of Savannah are among the nine Georgians competing in the 67th U.S. Senior Amateur, which begins Sunday at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass.
Royak won the title in 2019 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. Hanzel won the championship in 2013 at Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, N.C.
Others in the field are Jack Larkin, David Brown, Tom Lape and Robert Sheats of Atlanta, Danny Nelson of Savannah, Rusty Strawn of McDonough and Billy Mitchell of Roswell.
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, also is in the field.
Georgia PGA Section headed to Sea Island
The Georgia PGA will have its annual section championship on Sea Island next week, but the defending champion won’t be in the field. Jabir Bilal, who last year became the first African American to win the section title, has moved to California and is part of the Northern California Section.
Among the past champions who will tee it up Monday at the Plantation Course are Paul Claxton of Richmond Hill Golf Club, Tim Weinhart of Heritage Golf Links, Sonny Skinner of Spring Hill Country Club and James Mason of The Orchard. Others expected to contend are Anthony Cordes of Cherokee Town and Country Club, Pete Vitiello of The Landings Club, Jacob Tilton of Ansley Golf Club.
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