News >> No Blanks Fired In Illinois
Former Hooters Tour Member Wins Bank Of America Open
Glenview, IL (June 1, 2008)…Another week on the Nationwide Tour another victory by a former Hooters Tour member. Kris Blanks, who started the day tied for the lead, birdied three of his final nine holes for his first career Nationwide Tour title. Blanks carded rounds of 65-70-69-68 for a four day total of sixteen-under par 272 and a one stroke victory over Bob May and three stokes clear of Brendon de Jonge and 2007 Hooters Tour Player of The Year Casey Wittenberg.
"This is pretty special," said the 35-year-old native of Warner Robbins, Ga. "Thirty-four years of work to get here today."
"I knew if I just kept my composure everything would be all right," said Blanks, who hit all 18 greens in regulation. "For four days, this is as good as I've ever hit it."
With the victory, Blank’s $135,000 first-place check moves him from 31st to 5th on the Nationwide’s money list with $205,505 in earnings. Currently 5th on the money list, Blanks inches his way closer to a spot in the season ending Top 25 and a guaranteed spot on the PGA Tour next season. Blanks also may have history on his side in that every past winner of the Bank of America Open has secured one of the top 25 spots at season’s end.
"I can't even imagine what it will feel like to tee it up in Hawaii next year," said Blanks, who has never teed it up in a TOUR event. "I know I'm good enough. It will just be a matter of getting over the mental obstacles. But I'm not going to look at the PGA TOUR just yet. I hope to make a couple more dollars out here before the year is over."
Blanks was a member of the Hooters Tour from 2006-2007 collecting three wins, most recently during the 2006 season where he won twice and finished third on the money list.
With the victory, Blank’s $135,000 first-place check moves him from 31st to 5th on the Nationwide’s money list with $205,505 in earnings. Currently 5th on the money list, Blanks inches his way closer to a spot in the season ending Top 25 and a guaranteed spot on the PGA Tour next season. Blanks also may have history on his side in that every past winner of the Bank of America Open has secured one of the top 25 spots at season’s end.
"I can't even imagine what it will feel like to tee it up in Hawaii next year," said Blanks, who has never teed it up in a TOUR event. "I know I'm good enough. It will just be a matter of getting over the mental obstacles. But I'm not going to look at the PGA TOUR just yet. I hope to make a couple more dollars out here before the year is over."
Blanks was a member of the Hooters Tour from 2006-2007 collecting three wins, most recently during the 2006 season where he won twice and finished third on the money list.
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts alumni like 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, 2003 PGA champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis, 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk, British Open and PGA champion John Daly, two-time US Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open champion Tom Lehman, as well as PGA champion David Toms, Tour Championship winner Chad Campbell and back to back Reno Tahoe Open winner Vaughn Taylor to name just a few. All told, the NGA/Hooters Tour alumni have an incredible nine Majors to their credit. The NGA Hooters Tour has helped more than 100 golf professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide and Champion’s Tour card. In fact, 42% of the players that earned their 2008 PGA Tour cards, and 47% of the players that earned full exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA Hooters Tour.
For more information about the NGA Hooters Tour, please check out our website at www.hooterstour.com or contact the Tour office toll free at 800-992-8748.
