ST. LOUIS - Two members of the Blair Oaks golf team are still alive as the field in the 107th Missouri Amateur Championship has been winnowed down to the final 32 players.
The event, being held at the Norwood Hills Country Club's West Course, began play Tuesday and Wednesday with stroke play.
Kory Franks of the Falcons tied for eighth after those rounds, posting an even-par score of 69-73-142 on the par-71 layout.
His teammate at Blair Oaks, Tanner Elder, tied for 16th by finishing one stroke back at 71-72-143.
Former Helias Crusader Alex Knoll finished in an eight-way tied for 56th place by notching a score of 72-77-149.
That left Knoll one place removed from the final spot for advancing to match play, and there was a 12-way tie for the final spot.
After the 12 were narrowed to six after three playoff holes Wednesday, the rest came back Thursday morning for the remainder of the playoff, with Justin Mitchell of West Plains finally grabbing the final spot.
On Thursday, Franks won his first event of match play, beating Sean Normile of St. Louis 5 and 4.
Franks never trailed in the match, taking the lead with a birdie on the par-4 first hole. He pushed the lead to 3-up after four holes, thanks to birdies on the third and fourth holes.
A birdie on the eighth hole pushed Franks' lead to 4-up, but Normile won the ninth to cut Franks' lead at the turn. A birdie on the 11th and a par of 12th gave Franks a 5-up lead.
After Normile won the 13th, Franks won the 14th with a par to end the match early.
Elder, meanwhile, advanced by beating 63-year-old Don Bliss of Chesterfield, a four-time Amateur champion.
Bliss came charging out of the gate, winning the first four holes thanks to three birdies and a par. He won the sixth as well, pushing the lead to 5-up.
It stayed that way until Elder won the ninth with a birdie to get to within 4-down at the turn.
Elder then won the 10th and the 13th, but was still 2-down after the 14th.
Bogies by Bliss on the 15th and 16th meant Elder's pars were good enough to even the match. Elder then birdied the 17th to go 1-up, which was good enough to win when the players halved the 18th.
Knoll wasn't as lucky, as he dropped a 5 and 4 decision to Colby Yates of Tonganoxie, Kan.
In addition to Bliss, three other former champions advanced out of stroke play - defending champion Joey Johnson, Skip Berkmeyer and Brad Nurski. Those three all won their matches Thursday.
The event continues today with the Round of 32 in the morning and the Round of 16 in the afternoon.
In the morning, Elder will face off with Raytown's Steve Groom, while Franks will take on Mitch Rutledge of St. Louis.