Parks Wins Unprecedented 3rd U.S. Amateur Championship

Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., has made U.S. Amateur Championship history. Parks won his third U.S. Amateur Championship title, with a 11-7 win over Carlos Carter of Toney, Ala., in the final round Sunday at Strokers – Palm Harbor.

Parks also became the first U.S. Amateur Champion to successfully defend his title since Henry Brodt did it in 1998-1999.

After a late round loss the night before to Chuck Roth of Forest Hill, Md., it looked like Parks bid for history would come up short. But he managed to survive a marathon of matches on the one-loss side of the bracket, which included a 7-0 victory over Roth in a rematch to secure his spot in the final against the undefeated newcomer Carter.

The finale opened in the 9-Ball set, with both players showing a few jitters. Carter would take the first match, and after four the match was tied at two games a piece. Things turned Parks’ way in the 5th game when Carter failed to pocket a relatively routine shot on the 9-ball in the corner pocket. Parks would capitalize on the mistake by winning the game as well as the next four to build a 7-2 lead.

Carter would mount a small comeback, and at the end of the 9-Ball set he pulled within five games and trailed 9-4.

Things would get interesting as the match shifted to the 8-Ball set, with Carter winning the first two games and closing his deficit to just 3. Parks was on-the-hill with a clutch win in the 16th game before the players would take a quick break to regroup.

Following the short break, Carter pulled back within three games.

But the savvy U.S. Amateur Champion would prove too much, and with a win in the 18th game, Parks had further cemented his place in U.S. Amateur Championship history.

Roth would take home 3rd Place, as well as the distinction of handing Parks his only loss in the event.

In 4th Place was Travis Gunn of Waco, Texas. Tying for 5th Place were David Uwate of Miami, Fla., and Johnny Griffin of Apex, N.C.