JIM NUGENT
USGA Chairman of International Com-
petitions Steve Smyers could have been
referring specifically to Arnond “Bank”
Vongvanij when he said earlier this year
that, “I fully expect someone not on the
Walker Cup practice squad to make the
final team.” Fortunately, Bank has taken
the bait, and is giving it his all to make the
trip to Royal Aberdeen.
Vongvanij, a senior at the University of
Florida, has been one of the most consis-
tent collegiate golfers in the land this year.
And he is finally living up to the advance
billing when he committed to become the
next great Gator golfer. The IMG Academy
product was a standout junior player,
earning AJGA All-American honors in four
consecutive years. Florida coach Buddy
Alexander thought he would have an
immediate impact.
But shortly after he arrived on campus
in Gainesville, his swing deserted him,
and there was no IMG instructor on hand
to immediately diagnose the problem.
In an effort to gain length, the 5-foot- 5,
142-pound golfer developed a serious
case of the lefts. Things got so bad that he
played in just one event as a sophomore.
So while he worked to fix the dreaded
hook, he perfected an already strong short
game that is second to none in the college
ranks today. Gradually, his swing recov-
ered, followed by his confidence.
After a junior year he described as
“okay,” things began to click at the 2010
Cardinal Amateur. He followed up with a
good performance at the U. S. Amateur at
Chambers Bay, and he has been on a tear
ever since. Vongvanij has been medalist
three times this school year, including
an impressive performance on a lengthy,
7,500-yard course against a strong field
at the Isleworth Invitational last fall.
He became the first Gator to earn three
medalist honors in a season since Camilo
Villegas in 2002. Only four other Florida
golfers have accomplished this feat:
Villegas (2002), Steve Scott (1999), Brian
Gay (1992) and Chris DiMarco (1990).
game: “From 60 yards in, he is the best I
have ever had. He has a full repertoire of
shots, and a fertile imagination. And he
really works at it.”
Alexander says Bank is long enough,
but more importantly, he is deadly
straight, having overcome his left afflic-
tion. And he is also a good thinker on the
course, claiming “he absolutely refuses to
hit the wrong shot.”
Bank was born in Hawaii to Thai
parents, and he grew up in Thailand. At
age 12, he left his homeland, alone, and
enrolled at the IMG Academy. How did he
get his name? The night before he was
born, his mother was studying for a final
exam in banking as she was earning her
masters degree. She aced the exam, and
so her friends thought the child should
be named Bank. The nickname has stuck
ever since.
As far as the Walker Cup, he has low
expectations but very much wants to make
the team. He knows his summer play for
the last three years has been mediocre,
but he plans to play a full amateur sum-
mer schedule in 2011 with the goal of
making the team. “It would be such an
honor,” he told me recently, while declar-
ing his intention to remain an amateur in
hopes of being selected.
With his big smile and engaging man-
ner, Bank is easily likable. He is admired
by teammates and opponents alike, many
of whom are pulling for him this summer
to continue to play well and get the call he
covets from Smyers in August. l
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