Banks Shares 12th Overall, Earns Return Ticket

(5/29/07 - Men's Golf) PLYMOUTH, Ind. - Junior Gregg Banks II batted inclement weather and fatigue to claim a share of 12th place overall to earn all-America status at the 56th NAIA Men's Golf National Championships hosted by the Indiana National Golf Club.

Banks finished his four rounds with a total of 8-over 296, finishing in a tie with five other players. Not only did Banks earn the first all-America nod in program history, his top 15 finish assures that he will receive an automatic spot in the 2008 NAIA National Championships as an individual player.

Consistent play kept Banks among the tournament leaders all week as all four of his rounds were within four shots of each other. Despite shooting his highest round of the four on Thursday, Banks shot 1-under over his final nine holes to keep himself in contention for the top 15 finish.

In a stark reversal to the rest of the field, Banks played the last 9 holes of the course at 6-under over his first three rounds, a stretch of holes described as the most difficult he had seen by head coach Joey Cerulle. His scores reversed on the final day with a 4-over total on the back nine, but his scores still impressed many of the coaches who saw several golfers fall apart over those holes.

In their first-ever national appearance in just their second season of intercollegiate competition, the Eagles finished in 21st position as a team with a three-day total of 917. The team displayed consistent performances despite missing the cut for the final round, also staying within four shots in each of its three team scores.

Daniel Mitchell of team champion Oklahoma City won the individual crown with a 6-under par total of 282. The Stars won their 6th national title in the past 7 seasons with a final-round team score of 9-under 279 as Mitchell fired a 67.