South Carolina’s star player, Nathan Franks, will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season due to an unfortunate accident involving the Gamecocks’ team van on their way back from a tournament.
Junior golfer Franks, hailing from Roebuck, South Carolina, suffered a fractured right elbow in a three-vehicle accident shortly after securing his second individual victory of the season. The triumph came in the form of a three-shot win at the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Georgia, on Sunday afternoon. Riding as a passenger in the team’s sprinter van, alongside Gamecocks assistant Brady Gregor, another car unexpectedly pulled out in front of them on Highway 25 in Waynesboro. This incident occurred during their return trip to Columbia, South Carolina, which typically takes around three hours.
According to Gregor, their plan was to make a right turn in approximately 100 yards and head towards a gas station located at the corner of that intersection. Their intention was to get some donuts. There was a debate on whether to opt for ice cream instead, but Franks, who emerged victorious in Statesboro earlier this spring, insisted on sticking to the tradition of having donuts.
Gregor reflected on the unpredictable nature of life and how a simple decision can lead to unexpected outcomes. “One of those crazy decisions,” he mused, “if we had taken a different route into the gas station, perhaps we would have completely avoided this situation.”
South Carolina head coach Bill MacDonald, who was driving in a separate car and about two miles ahead of the crash, emphasized the quick reaction of Brady, stating, “It could’ve been a lot worse and more head-on had Brady not reacted so quickly. Yeah, it was pretty scary.”
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries resulting from the incident. The five other South Carolina players who were traveling in the van were seated in the back and only experienced minor bumps and bruises. Franks himself was even able to unload luggage upon returning home that evening. To ensure the well-being of all team members, additional wellness checks were conducted on Sunday night once they were back on campus.
After the exhilarating experience, Franks reached out to MacDonald on Monday morning to share some concerning news. He explained that he was unable to fully extend his right arm and that it was quite sore. Upon evaluation, it was determined that he had suffered a hairline fracture in his right elbow. Fortunately, surgery and casting were not necessary, but Franks now finds himself wearing a sling. Unfortunately, this means that he will be unable to participate in the team’s final two regular-season events, including the upcoming Hootie at Bulls Bay tournament, which begins this Sunday. Moreover, Franks will also miss the SEC Championship, scheduled for April 24, as well as the NCAA regionals, which are set for May 13-15.
According to MacDonald, if he stays on track, there is a possibility that he will be able to start making some swings around SECs. In the best-case scenario, he will then have two weeks to prepare for regionals.
Gregor expressed his sympathy for Nate, acknowledging that he is the kind of person who would be willing to push through despite feeling terrible.
Franks, through MacDonald, expressed his ongoing struggle to come to terms with the events that transpired.
The Gamecocks currently hold the No. 58 ranking in the country, placing them just inside the bubble for at-large teams vying for the 81-team postseason. Despite their fifth-place finish at the Schenkel, South Carolina’s 42-40 head-to-head record puts them on the brink of the .500 rule. However, with Franks absent, the Gamecocks will be missing their top-ranked individual, who is ranked at No. 92. In their quest for a regional berth, it will be crucial for players like Rafe Reynolds (No. 136) and Frankie Harris (No. 160) to step up. Additionally, Gene Ziegler will be making his season debut at Bulls Bay, playing as an individual alongside Reynolds, Harris, Zach Adams, Lansdon Robbins, and Laurens Schulze-Doering.
Gregor expressed his confidence in his team’s performance, stating, “Had you called me on my way home, I would have assured you that we were determined to dominate SECs. I hope that our teammates can rise to the occasion and help us achieve our goal as a collective unit.”
In the larger context, however, Gregor and MacDonald express gratitude that the accident on Sunday night only resulted in a broken bone and a totaled van. This is especially significant considering that the incident occurred just days after the two-year anniversary of a tragic crash that took the lives of seven individuals, including the head coach and six players from the University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf teams.
“We are extremely fortunate,” MacDonald expressed. “After witnessing the accident and its aftermath, and having conversations with the individuals involved, Brady acted swiftly. It’s interesting because I was recently mentioning to another coach how driving the van is one of the most challenging aspects of our coaching responsibilities. How many other sports require their coaches to be on the field during a game and then be responsible for safely transporting their athletes back to campus? I believe this aspect of safety is often overlooked in our sport… We truly are fortunate that there haven’t been more incidents.”
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