Sep 19, 2005 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

FARMINGTON – Carlos Franco kept fighting and clawing and battling, but in the end he never could catch Jason Gore during Sunday’s final round of the 84 Lumber Classic. Franco began the day just two shots back and fell behind by as many as four before making a late charge that left him one shot short.

“I had a couple chances,” said the four-time PGA Tour winner. “I tried to make birdies, but I touched the hole, touched the hole, came very close but they didn’t go in.”

Franco was consistent, with rounds of 69, 69, 68 and then 69 on Sunday to finish at 13-under-par. He parred seven holes in the front nine with birdies coming on Nos. 5 and 8, the former on a 24-foot chip in.

“That was lucky,” Franco said.

He parred the first six holes on the back nine before scoring birdie on No. 16, then parred out, but he had several chances at additional birdies.

“I knew I needed one birdie the last two holes,” Franco said. “You need to play the golf course, and you need to make many putts to give yourself a chance to win.

Franco thought nerves might get to Gore.

“He’s the rookie,” Franco said. “He had never won on the PGA Tour. Everybody has a little problem when it comes to the last two holes for one shot.”

Gore hung on, though. Even so, Franco was pleased with the way he played and will gladly take his second-play finish.

“I played all day very focused,” said the 40-year-old Franco, who’s from Paraguay. “I had good concentration. I didn’t make a bogey the last two days. I needed two more shots for the win, but I’m very happy when I finish second.”

Franco admitted he’s a Gore fan, like much of the gallery.

“I’m very happy for him because it’s his first win,” Franco said. “He’s a good guy. I hope he wins more tournaments in the next couple of years.”

Franco, who also played in last year’s 84 Lumber Classic, was pleased with his experience on Mystic Rock Golf Course and Nemacolin Woodlands.

“I like the course,” Franco said.

“It’s a little tricky in the fairways and greens. That’s good for everybody because when you hit sometimes great shots, the second shot you have a chance to miss the green. There’s never a flat green. Every shot there’s always a surprise, like the kick of the ball.

“The weather was absolutely good. The course is shaped nice, too. I like the greens, and the speed of the greens. They’re tricky, sometimes very fast, sometimes not.

“I think the golf tournament was very nice this weekend and it’s good for the country here. It’s a little far for people to come here – two hours from the airport – but it doesn’t matter. I think it was a nice weekend for everybody.”

Like most of the Tour golfers who visit Nemacolin Woodlands, Franco was impressed with the resort.

“It’s like a holiday, a vacation,” Franco said.

If one more birdie had dropped, the weekend could have turned out almost perfect for Franco.