David Robinson averages 30 weeks and 40,000 miles on the road in his Grand Cherokee each year while playing golf's mini-tours.

Some years, when he's struggling with his game, those are long miles. Other times, like this year, they fly by.

The Sandersville, Ga., native and resident, who turned pro in 2004 after a stellar career at Georgia College & State University, is enjoying his best year as a professional.

"I've had a great year so far," said the 27-year-old Robinson.

Primarily playing the Tarheel Tour, Robinson has won twice in 12 starts and is the leading money winner ($78,833.33) with four events to go.

He also has played seven NGA/Hooters Tour events, including last week's Kandy Waters Memorial Classic at Bartram Trail Golf Club, where a final-round 65 moved him into a tie for 20th place.

"It's mostly the mental aspect," Robinson said, on why he's playing better. "I got tougher mentally. I don't get up and down as much. I don't quit. Golf is a crazy game and you're going to have your ups and downs. Just enjoy your ups and when you get down, don't get too down on yourself."

Robinson won't come out and say he's the best golfer to ever come out of Sandersville, even if it's true.

"We don't have a lot of golf in Sandersville," is all he'll say.

There is only one course in town: Twin City Country Club, where Robinson plays and practices.

"It's helped me a lot because the greens are really small," he said. "You're hitting at really small targets and it helps when you come out here because most of the courses we play have a lot bigger greens."

In Sandersville, "everyone knows and keeps up with me (on the mini-tours)," he said.

Even so, Robinson doesn't consider himself a celebrity in town.

"Until you get your PGA Tour card, I don't think you could ever say you're a celebrity."

Robinson is mainly playing on the Tarheel Tour because he likes its three-day, 54-hole tournament schedule. The Hooters Tour plays four-day, 72-hole events, which means he'd be gone from Tuesday through Sunday.

"I like to be home with my family a little more than that," said Robinson, referring to his wife, Lauren, and their daughter, Carly Glynn.

Robinson is making a good living this year -- more than $102,000 counting his Hooters earnings -- but this isn't his dream. Playing on the PGA Tour is. He's giving himself five more years to get there.

"I'm going to probably try this until I'm at least 32," he said. "They say until you reach 30 you haven't reached your peak. I'm going to give it at least that long."

Robinson will give it up if he gets in his 30s "and I haven't done more than make a good living and had fun on the mini-tours. That's not my ultimate goal, to play the mini-tours for the rest of my life."

BACK TO BARTRAM: The Hooters Tour's Kandy Waters Memorial Classic "will probably" return to Bartram Trail in 2009, according to title sponsor L.D. Waters.

This was the event's ninth year, but the first time it was held at Bartram Trail and under a one-year deal.

"The boys like the course; it seems to be working out," Waters said. "As far as I know, unless something happens, it will probably be back here next year. No reason not to."

Waters and the Hooters Tour will make that decision "in the near future," said Jeff Harlow, the Hooters Tour's tournament director.

"What usually happens is if the players don't like a golf course, they'll let you know about it," Harlow said. "It's one of those no news is good news things. I didn't have a single player come up to me and say anything bad about the course. That's always a good sign."