Taylor Smith wins Georgia Mid-Amateur in Dramatic Fashion

ATLANTA, GA (May 20, 2018) - In a dramatic come-from-behind finish, it was Taylor Smith of Covington who was there holding the Dick Franklin Trophy to win the Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship. The 37th edition took place at Piedmont Driving Club, May 18-20.

Stan Gann, Jr., (68-71-76) and Tyler Gruca (74-71-70) share runner-up honors as both players finished at 1-under-par 215. It was Gann who held the lead after the first two rounds of play. Not making more than two bogeys over the first 36 holes, Gann struggled on the front nine on Sunday as he turned at 5-over on the day. He recorded birdies on 12, 13, 18 and bogeys on 16 and 17 to finish 1-under for the Championship. Smith posted five birdies on two bogeys in the final round to take over the lead and win the title. With a steady bogey-free, two-birdie outing of his own, Gruca kept it interesting as he crept up the leaderboard after starting the day six strokes back.

Three players tied for fourth at even-par 216, including West Streib (74-75-67), Nathaniel Rau (72-75-69) and Nick Cassini (71-74-71). Two-time Georgia Mid-Amateur winner (2001, 2002), Rick Cloninger, finished seventh at 1-over-par 217 (73-73-71). A trio tied for eighth to round out the overall top 10 at 2-over-par 218, including Rob McRae (74-75-69), Rusty Mosley (75-71-72) and Billy Mitchell (73-75-70).

There were three past champions to make the cut, including Cloninger, Greg Kennedy and Jack Hall. Cloninger, who won back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, finished seventh at 1-over-par 217 (73-73-71). Kennedy earned his Georgia Mid-Am title in 2000 and finished this year tied for 18th at 6-over-par 222 (74-74-74). Hall, the winner in 2015, finished tied for 46th at 11-over-par 227 (79-72-76).

With the victory, Smith is now exempt into the Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship for 10 years and also the Georgia Amateur Championship for five years.