CARLSBAD, Calif. — Christo Lamprecht was in the final group Friday night after the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. Despite shooting a 2-under 70, the final hour was a struggle.
Lamprecht, a 6-foot-8 senior at Georgia Tech and the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, felt pain in his back. He fought his way to the clubhouse and then quickly headed to the training bench.
“It didn't really give us much sleep,” Yellow Jackets coach Bruce Heppler said.
Lamprecht texted his coach on Saturday morning to say he would like to try but his back was too hurt. Aidan Tran took his place, but he didn't know he was in the running until about 80 minutes before tea time.
Georgia Tech golfer Aidan Tran competes in the second round of the NCAA Championships at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Todd Drexler/Tim Cowie)
Tran replaced Lamprecht in the Georgia Tech lineup at the last minute on Saturday and shot a 5-over 77 in the second round on the Omni La Costa North Course. He had three birdies, including on the final hole, and the only blemish on his scorecard was three consecutive double bogeys on holes 12-14. Other than that, it was a solid call to the bullpen given the circumstances.
“I was having breakfast with the guys, just sitting there eating,” Tran said. “Coach called me over and said, 'Did Crist talk to you?' And I said, 'No, he didn't say anything.'”
Tran had to get into competitive mode right away. He traveled with his team to the ACC Championships and NCAA Regionals but didn't play until Saturday. Georgia Tech's drop score was 5 over par, while Tran and first-round leader Hiroshi Tai were both 5 over par.
“This was definitely a different experience for me,” Tran said.
He said he was nervous on his first tee shot and pulled his iron, sending it swerving off the fairway. He turned in for three straight doubles and then birdied the final hole to sign for 77.
And Tran can go into the match knowing he'll probably be able to play tomorrow. “It's not good,” Hepler said of Lamprecht's back condition, and he attributes it to a variety of factors, including stress and the pressure of competing for No. 1 on the PGA Tour College Tour and being No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“It's really sad,” Heppler said, “but he has to deal with it. I think in part it's exacerbated by the stress he's been under.”
Because of Lamprecht's height, strain on his back is always going to be an issue, and Hepler feels sorry for the superstar but also thinks this will help him learn how to take better care of his body in the future.
“With all that torque, it means you have to be careful every day as long as you want to play,” Hepler said.
This article originally appeared on GolfWeek
