Portland golfer still in hunt after uneven day at Royal Oaks
By Matt Calkins
Published: June 9, 2012, 5:00pm
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Landon Banks
In final group for second year at Royal Oaks Invitational
You can’t buy it. It’s not approved by Pfizer. But there isn’t much of a better sleep aid than what Landon Banks found Saturday.
Sitting at 1-over-par for the day at the Royal Oaks Invitational Tournament, the 24-year-old chipped in for birdie from about 20 yards off the ninth green to card a 72.
Banks, who teed off on the 10th hole, is now two strokes behind leader Jack Dukeminier heading into today’s final round of the 54-hole tournament.
“I’m gonna sleep good,” said Banks, whose second-to-last shot Saturday came from a muddy lie, causing his ball to zip right and prompting him to say “that was justice” after the chip-in.
“I shot a 72 and didn’t hit the ball well,” he added. “I think it’s a big confidence booster. I was happy to get around with the way my game was today.”
Banks, who finished tied for third in 2011, will play in the final group at the Royal Oaks Invitational for the second straight year.
And it’s not as though the big stage is a new experience for the Portland resident.
Banks played for two years at Oregon, where he won the Peter Jacobsen Award for best newcomer. But after struggling the next season while having a not-so-ideal relationship with Ducks coach Casey Martin, he left Eugene.
His golf aspirations, however, have not left him.
Banks spends his winters in La Quinta, Calif., working in the bag room at PGA West while getting all the course and practice time he needs. After the summer, he’ll assess his situation and possibly turn pro.
In the meantime, he’s hoping add a little boost to his amateur résumé.
“I played in the final group last year and am going to look back on the experience,” Banks said. “I think it’ll help. I’m just gonna go out there and do my best.”
