U.S. Amateur semifinalist files lawsuit against NCAA seeking fifth year at Georgia

U.S. Amateur semifinalist Carter Loflin has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA as he hopes to return to the University of Georgia to play golf on a fifth year of eligibility, according to a report in the Athens Banner-Herald.

Loflin’s attorney Nik Erramilli told the newspaper that the lawsuit was filed in Athens-Clarke County Superior Course on Aug. 24, with Loflin seeking a temporary restraining order. Erramilli contends that the Bulldogs have a roster spot available for Loflin if the court rules that his client is eligible to play.

“It’s a restraint of trade,” Erramilli told the Banner-Herald. “It’s an unfair restrain of his right to access the marketplace which is prohibited in Georgia.”

Loflin, 22, from Duluth, Ga., advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur last week at Merion and lost on the 18th hole to eventual champion Jack Whaley. He has played four seasons for the Bulldogs and won two tournaments last season.

The rub, according to the Banner-Herald, is that athletes from the high school class of 2022 are not allowed to play a fifth season, although the NCAA recently instituted a new model that allows some athletes in classes before and after 2022 to gain the extra year.

“The 2018, ’19, ’20 and ’21 classes all got COVID waivers,” Erramilli said. “They all got a fifth year and a sixth year at times. This 5-for-5 rule, the NCAA is saying if you came into college in 2023 and began competing you are eligible for it. For some arbitrary reason, just this class is for some reason is just not allowed.”

The University of Georgia athletics website says the Bulldogs start their season Aug. 30 at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate at Fox Den Country Club in Tennessee. It will be the first tournament with Mookie DeMoss as head coach since former coach Chris Haack retired after being at the helm for 30 years.