A Hollywood ending for Straight Down in 2008 — posted 2008-11-17

The only missing items were Will Smith and Matt Damon.

Much like the 1999 golf movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance” the 2008 Straight Down Fall Classic ended with golf cart lights criss-crossing the final hole and a tie.

“Only at Straight Down,” chuckled Ed Cuff, a three-time amateur winner at the event as he nursed a glass of red wine and watched the final scene unfold from greenside.

Tournament officials moved the No. 18 pin into the middle of the green from a tricky front right spot after two playoff holes.

After four playoff holes and total darkness, the combatants called it quits.

Tim Fleming and partner Alan Bratton from Oklahoma would split the first and second place money with  PGA Tour pro Jason Gore and amateur partner Kevin Marsh.

Each pro would earn $20,000, with Fleming picking up another $2,500 as the low club professional. Fleming, the head professional at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, also was low pro in 2007.

“It was so much fun. For that kind of drama to end in a card off , I think we did the right thing to be co-champs. It was too much fun to end up somebody having to lose,” said Gore after the tournament.

As players wrapped up their third playoff hole, the large and festive gallery that had gathered at the clubhouse and 18th green was cheering “One more time, one more time.”

Fleming’s partner Bratton almost ended the day with a spectacular eagle on the fourth playoff hole. Hitting from the right fairway, Bratton’s second shot hit low on the pin, and then stopped within two feet of the flag.

“I guess it finally needed to get dark enough for me. That was the best shot I hit all day,” he said.

Gore who had missed two earlier birdie putts from about 10 feet, found the bottom of the cup on the fourth playoff hole from about 10 feet.

When Bratton made his putt, the longest-ever Straight Down Fall Classic - 40 holes - was in the books.

Tournament conditions throughout the weekend were ideal, though on the warm side on the 6,800-yard layout.

Santa Ana winds that blew through the San Luis Obispo Country Club on Friday abated by Saturday, though high temperatures approached 90 degrees.

On Sunday, the high temperature at the golf course was 83 degrees, with light breezes.

The good weather, charity elements and strong field of players brought out golf fans in what may have been the largest ever turnout at the course for the 12-year event.

No tickets are sold, though the Saturday galleries were larger than normal, according to tournament director John Ronca Jr.

This year’s field included PGA Tour players Fred Couples, Charley Hoffman, Chez Reavie and Ricky Barnes along with a number of tour pros from the Champions and Nationwide Tours.

The mix of club pros and top ranked-amateurs is also a strong element of the invitational event, where the total purse is worth $125,000.

Co-champion Fleming, for example, played in the 1986 U.S. Open and was a member of the Oklahoma State 1987 NCAA Championship team. He was the PGA South Central section player of the year from 2001 to 2007 and played in the PGA Championship from 2001 to 2005.

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