Frank keeps U.S. Open dream alive

June 2, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

He’ll again try to qualify for U.S. Open today in Columbus

For most guys, having a 5-month-old at home would be a death sentence to their golf game.

Luckily for Garrett Frank, he has a family who supports his dream of one day playing in a U.S Open. He’ll try again today in a 36-hole sectional qualifier at Springfield Country Club outside of Columbus.

“I haven’t played a lot of rounds lately between work and having a kid, but I’m excited to get back out there,” said Frank, a graduate of Austintown Fitch High who now lives in Boardman.

Frank qualified for what he thinks is his 10th sectional qualifier by shooting a round of 70 at Weymouth Country Club in Medina on May 13. But when you’ve been chasing your dream for the better part of a decade, it becomes easy to lose track.

“Once you get out there and get a taste of it, you wanna take every chance you can get,” said Frank. “It’s probably just the dream of playing in a major that keeps me coming back.”

The closest Frank came was back in 2007. He lost in a playoff that would have earned him a spot in the field playing at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh.

Last year, Frank was sent to Memphis for a qualifier. He’s happy to be playing closer to home this time around. He’s scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. from hole No. 1. He’ll be playing with Brandon Bingaman of Montrose, Colo., and amateur Parker Edens from Greeley, Colo.

This year there are 12 sectional qualifying sites — 10 in the U.S., one in England and one in Japan. Sectional qualifying becomes a different kind of test for the golfers, as they have to play 36 holes in a single day. The number of qualifying spots is determined by the quality and quantity of the field at each location.

“You don’t know how many more chances are going to come around,” said Frank, who’s a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial. “If I could take advantage of it this year that would be fantastic.”

He knows his opportunities are dwindling. When Frank was as young as 4 or 5, he could be found on Mill Creek Golf Course learning the game from his father, Howard. Before the birth of his son, he could be found walking local courses with his wife, Meagan, who has played caddie for him a time or two.

Now he’s busy trying to sneak out of diaper duty to find time on the range.

“[Meagan] played on the Boardman golf team for a year and still plays a little bit,” Frank said. “But I’m extremely fortunate to have someone so supportive.

“I’m also afraid to beat her on the course, so there’s that too.”