​Five years ago, Jason Bannister was a somewhat familiar college golfer from California, who had spent the summers of his youth in Bloomfield, playing in junior tournaments across his adopted state.First chance he had while in the middle of his career at the University of Southern Indiana was to play in the qualifier for the 2022 Bloomington City Golf Tournament. Amazingly, it’s the only time he’s had to do that.Since then, Bannister has won all 20 of his matches in the Phil Talbot Men’s Championship flight. The latest was a 3 and 1 victory in the 18-hole final over Mitch Oard on Sunday, July 19 at Cascades Golf Course, as the 98th edition of the tourney came to a close. Seniors finals: Duo perseveres to win Bloomington City Golf Senior, Super Senior titlesSemifinals recap: ‘Shocking’ finish for Seniors in City Golf Tournament semifinals”Yeah, I think sitting there, I vividly remember the first qualifier I ever played in,” Bannister said. “I didn’t play particularly well the first round. I played with Mitch that second day because we both didn’t play great Round 1. But we battled and I played Tyler Jordan in the first match I ever played out here.”It’s surreal to think that if you would have told me then that I’d win five in a row and it’s the first five that I would play in, I don’t think I would believe you.”Believe it. Only Talbot’s streak of nine, from 1935-43, surpasses Bannister’s run.”He’s coming off competitive college golf. He’s in his prime, you’d say,” said Oard, 34 and a three-time champ. “Cascades, you can hit anywhere out here and get it on the green. A guy with his game, he doesn’t miss much, doesn’t do anything silly, doesn’t try to get aggressive most of the time. Just stays within himself and you’re tough to beat when you do that.”Solving the Cascades puzzleBannister quickly figured out his best approach to match play at Cascades.Club selection off the tee sets everything else up. It’s less driver and more about his 3-iron. Good distance coupled with good accuracy puts constant pressure on his foe. Then it’s a matter of sticking his wedge from about 90 yards out. If his putter is on, it can get ugly quickly.”Going back to that first year, I hit a lot more drivers and was a lot more aggressive,” Bannister said. “It was a little bit more reckless golf than it is now. I’ve got a little 3-iron that hit. It goes the number that puts me between 80 and 100 yards on a majority of these par 4s. “And if I can hit that, the zoysia of the fairways is just incredible to where it allows me to then, instead of being aggressive off the tee, it allows me to be more aggressive with the second shot. Spin the ball back, bring it into a tight flag, control the golf ball a lot more, which is important out here.”Walking or riding, he doesn’t lose with sage advice from his favorite caddy.”Having Lance Ringler on the bag,” Bannister said. “He’s been incredible for me, just helping me think through it. Keeping me level headed. I was running hot after 13