Blanks earns first Nationwide Tour win
If you take that advice after one of those TV golf tips -- consult your local PGA professional -- you might know a Kris Blanks.
A golfer good enough to potentially make a good living as a tour player, but never in the right place at the right time.
"I had the same story (of) guys in golf shops all over the country," Blanks said. "I couldn't find any sponsors, wasn't in the right parts of the country. I knew I could play, but if you're not playing in any tournaments, who cares if you shoot 64 when it doesn't mean anything?"
On a sunny Sunday at the Glen Club in Glenview, his 4-under-par 68 meant plenty.
It gave the 35-year-old native of Warner Robbins, Ga., his first win on the Nationwide Tour. Blanks' 16-under 272 for the tournament gave him a 1-shot win over PGA Tour veteran Bob May in the Bank of America Open.
"I've kind of taken a Tom Lehman approach to my career in that he was a late starter," said Blanks, who turned pro in 1995 but to help make ends meet served as a golf instructor and even a bartender.
A three-time winner on the Hooters Tour, Blanks earned $135,000, hiking his season earnings to $205,505 and vaulting him from No. 31 to No. 5 on the official money list. The top-25 players at season's end earn their PGA Tour card.
Blanks tied for third in the LaSalle Bank Open at the Glen Club last year, after earning a spot in a Monday qualifier.
His wife, Tami, is a golf professional at a country club in Hilton Head, S.C., and competed for Ohio State. She followed her husband in his final round in a tournament in Memphis, Tenn., the previous week, and he credited her for helping instill in him the confidence that he was capable of winning.
"She's like, 'Baby, it's there. There's nothing you need to work on,' " Blanks said. "I kind of felt that, but it's always nice to hear from somebody that knows you."
Blanks entered Sunday in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard with David McKenzie and Skip Kendall. While McKenzie shot a 72 to finish in a tie for fifth and Kendall ballooned to a 76 (tie for 31st), Blanks carded 5 birdies and just 1 bogey.
He needed a par-saving 6-foot putt on No. 16 to remain tied for first with May, who fired a bogey-free 64.
"I've been trying to not really analyze the leaderboards," Blanks said. "But that one (right off the 16th green) … it was right behind where I was trying to hit it."
Blanks sank the putt, then stepped to the 17th tee and nearly aced the par 3. He rolled his tee shot within a foot for an easy birdie.
"I don't even know what our yardage was," Blanks said. "But I just felt I could get an 8-iron there, even though it was into the wind a little bit."