Franks, Schnieders advance in Stroke Play Championship

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Kory Franks and Archer Schnieders both made the cut Wednesday in the 24th annual Missouri Stroke Play Championship at Twin Oaks Country Club.

Franks, a Blair Oaks graduate who currently resides at Lake Ozark, is tied for 19th place in the 148-player field with a 1-under 141 for his first two rounds Tuesday and Wednesday.

Franks began the tournament with a 1-over 72, posting three birdies and four bogeys. He played a bogey-free round Wednesday to make the cut, recording a pair of birdies on the back nine.

Schnieders, a sophomore at Helias, had one of the low rounds Wednesday to make the cut with an even-par 142, one of seven golfers in a tie for 25th place.

Schnieders started the tournament with a 3-over 75, having four bogeys to go with his 14 pars. However, on Day 2, he matched Franks with a bogey-free round, but Schnieders picked up four birdies - two on the front nine and two on the back nine - to finish with a 4-under 67 to climb above the cut line.

Only the top 40 plus ties advanced to today. The cut was at 2-over 144.

The remaining 41 golfers will play 36 holes today to decide the Stroke Play Championship. Schnieders will tee off at 8:10 a.m. and Franks will begin play at 8:42 a.m.

Jack Parker of Columbia holds the 36-hole lead with a 9-under 133. He tied for the low round Wednesday with a 6-under 65.

Peter Weaver of St. Louis was in second place with an 8-under 134, while Christopher Ferris of St. Louis is third with a 7-under 135.

Jefferson City's Alex Gentry, a 2020 Helias graduate, missed the cut by one stroke with a 3-over 145, one of nine golfers to tie for 42nd place.

Gentry opened the tournament with a 3-over 74, posting two birdies, three bogeys and one double-bogey. He followed with an even-par 71 on Day 2, carding three birdies and three bogeys.

Other area golfers who failed to make the cut at the Stroke Play Championship were Sunrise Beach's Warren Galloway (T-76th, 7-over 149); Westphalia's Cole Lehmen (T-94th, 10-over 152), a 2020 Fatima graduate; Osage Beach's Eric Thomas (T-103rd, 12-over 154); and Jefferson City's Blake Meredith (T-142nd, 30-over 172), a junior at Capital City High School.