Page 40 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Summer 2018

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Shinny Boy

UNLV Rebel golfer Shintaro Ban took his game to
the next level during an epic senior year

STORY BY BRIAN HURLBURT | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY UNLV ATHLETICS

t was difficult to do the research, but this writer would be do so even as the stakes get higher.
hard-pressed to find two more talented golfing roommates
Ithan Shintaro Ban (known as Shinny Boy), who wrapped up Ban credits his success during his senior season to observing the
his UNLV senior season in 2018, and former Rebel John Oda, an work ethic and dedication of Oda and another former Rebel, Kurt Kita-
All-American who turned professional in 2017 prior to his senior year. yama, as they go through the daily grind of professional golf.

Oda and Ban have been roommates since they were freshmen and “I see how much their work ethic has changed since they left college,”
are great friends in addition to both etching their names in the UNLV Ban says. “I have seen what it will take when I turn pro, but it even
golf history books. Oda was the Mountain West Conference player showed me I could work harder while I was still in school.”
of the year in 2017 and Ban followed suit, earning the same accolade
in 2018. Both were also named to the 2017 Srixon/Cleveland Golf Oda was unsuccessful in earning Web.com Tour status after turning
All-America Scholar team as voted by the Golf Coaches Association of professional, but has gained entrance into some PGA TOUR events
America. Each are All-Americans and soon Ban will join Oda in the through Monday qualifiers. Kitayama has played the Web.com Tour
professional golf ranks. and the Asian Tour.

Accomplishing excellence wasn’t an accident for the dynamic duo. “It’s been awesome to watch Shin grow,” Oda says. “Being roommates
Since day one, each roommate pushed the other and will continue to since freshman year we have always fed off each other. He has pushed

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