Columbus golfer honors late father as he qualifies for U.S. Open and Masters
Former Columbus High School golfer Ben Carr has qualified for the U.S. Open and Masters by finishing second in the U.S. Amateur.
Carr, a fifth-year senior at Georgia Southern University, was the runner-up in the 122nd U.S. Amateur at the Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. Texas A&M fifth-year senior Sam Bennett won the championship with a 1-up victory over Carr in match play.
In the semifinals, Carr beat Pepperdine senior Derek Hitchner 3 and 2 while reining in his emotions after initially not being able to find the ball marker he uses in memory of his late father, David, who died three years ago.
As reported by Golf Digest, Carr said he was “rattled” by the misplaced memento, but he found his favorite marker while reading his putt on the 15th hole, then he used it on the 16th, where he clinched the victory.
In an interview with NBC after the match, Carr fought back tears as he shared his reaction.
“Very emotional,” he said. “Ah, man. I’m just really happy my mom and brother could be here.”
Carr thanked his family and friends for their support.
“Oh, God,” he said. “I’m so far from home, and there’s just so many people that came to watch. Damn, man. I’m sorry I just cussed on camera.”
The interviewer assured him NBC could bleep it out, then noted a rainbow in the sky behind them.
Georgia Southern men’s golf coach Carter Collins said he couldn’t be prouder of Carr.
“The world is continuing to find out how great of a golfer he is, and through his humility and sportsmanship, they are also learning how special of a person he is,” Collins told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “He accomplished so much this week and earned the respect of a nation. We are proud to have him as an Eagle. What a week for Ben and his family.”
Carr helped Columbus High School win three straight Georgia High School Association boys golf state championships (2016 in Class 5A, 2017 and 2018 in Class 4A).
“Very happy for Ben and his family,” Columbus High golf coach Chris Parker told the L-E in an email. “It’s no fluke that he performed as well as he did and I would like to think that it will not be the last time that you hear his name on the national/world scene of golf. I kept saying over and over that even when he got 5 holes down he would fight back and make the match go to the 36th hole.”
Like he tells his other Blue Devil golfers, Parker said, he is more proud of Carr for the way he carries himself on and off the course than his awards.
“I think Ben clearly showed an impeccable amount of class and character and is a testament to how he was raised and loved by his family,” Parker said.
The L-E didn’t reach Carr for comment before publication.
