Tommy Armour defended his Callaway Invitational title at Pebble Beach Sunday in spectacular fashion, sinking a 36-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a three-way playoff.

Scott Simpson, who competes in Straight Down Clothing Co. gear and fellow Straight Down team member Brock Mackenzie, were victimized by the Armour putt.

Mackenzie played on the Nationwide Tour in 2007 and needed a final-round 67 at Pebble Beach to earn his way into the playoff.

Simpson, who played the previous week at the 12th annual Straight Down Fall Classic, had a final round 70, making up six shots on Armour in windy conditions. He needed a 12-foot putt on the final hole of regulation to make it into the playoff.

The Callaway Invititational features players from the Nationwide, PGA Champions and LPGA tours, with tee adjustments for the women.

Charley Hoffman, who competes in Straight Down gear, finished 8th at the Callaway and Chez Reavie finished in ninth place.

Hoffman and Reavie played in San Luis Obispo a week earlier.

Other competitors at the Monterey Peninsula event who played at the Straight Down Fall Classic this year were Dan Forsman of the Champions Tour, Jason Gore of the PGA Tour and Scott Gutschewski, who has earned his PGA Tour card for 2009.

 

Michael Blodgett is one of the talented amateur golfers who participate in the Straight Down Fall Classic. He played high school golf in San Luis Obispo, but has shined even brighter three time zones to the east.

Now a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, he won the Ivy League Golf championships in May, 2008.

He played in the 2008 Straight Down Fall Classic with pro Tom Kelly, who represents Straight Down Clothing Co. in the Keystone State.

The team finished tied for 35^th place in 208, with a 67-76-143. The team was four shots back of the leaders after the first 18 holes.

Blodgett is also an athlete who has juvenile diabetes. His family has known Mike Rowley’s family for years and that friendship inspired Rowley to name the Juvenile Diabetes Research Institute as one of the three charities that would benefit from the 2008 Fall Classic.

Straight Down had an opportunity to sit with Blodgett following his Sunday round at San Luis Obispo Country Club to talk about the tournament and golf in general.

Straight Down - What did you find out here this weekend?

Michael Blodgett - I’ve seen these greens for the last 10 years, playing on here, growing up here and every opportunity I have to come out the Straight Down it’s always an honor to be out here. I’ve caddied for many years and to be able to play out here for the last two years. The greens don’t get any easier. It’s always the same. It’s always tricky. These three footers are always the longest three-footers you’ll ever have in your life. The course played tough. I think it played fair. It was a grind.

SD - Hardly any wind. The predicted wind wasn’t there so that had to help you a little bit?

MB — Yeah.

SD - The hot weather though dried out the greens?

MB - Definitely. I would have like to see the winds pick up. Coming out here when I was growing up, hitting balls after school, it was always whipping. The wind was always blowing 30 mph.

SD-So you could play your shot to accommodate for that.

MB — Exactly

SD - Turning to the charities. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. That has to be a big factor why you like playing in this tournament. … Have you had much conversation with (Mike Rowley) over the weekend or in advance of the tournament about what’s going on here?

MB - Not much. A lot of the conversation has been behind the scenes with my parents and him. I’ve spoken with him a few times. But when I first heard that he was going to help the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation I was thrilled. I wanted to offer any services that I could to make sure it was set up. Obviously it’s an honor to be able to play out here. I played with Scott Simpson today and he asked me what I had on my belt. It’s my insulin pump. So we got to share stories about the guys on tour - Scott Verplank and some of the other guys who are on the senior tour - who have people or relatives who are diabetic. I love to be out here playing this game. I’m proving to people and proving to the world that even though you have a disease or you have an ailment you can still play and be successful.

SD - You have some goals as the Ivy League champion?

MB - I’m looking forward to this year. I’ve had a good fall season. I’ve won one event individually this fall. Had a really, really good year and I’m looking forward to the spring. If all goes according to plan I’m actually going to be back out here for Cal Poly’s event in the spring (Cal Poly Invitational March 26, 27). The university is going to come out here and play. Fast forward to the Ivys in late April or early May. I’ll be defending champion and right now I feel like I’m on the top of my game and when I’m playing well and playing just consistent like I have been all year there’s not very many people in the Northeast who can beat me.

SD — Are there two-time champions in the Ivy League?

MB - I don’t know the history that well but I was the first University of Pennsylvania to ever win (the championship) so if I an defend it would be another milestone.

SD - Are you ready for another Pennsylvania winter? I think I saw that the Steelers today were playing in a lot of snow back there.

MB - I’m really not looking forward to going to class tomorrow. I’m getting on a plane here in about four hours and have a long way home and class tomorrow. But to be out here in the sun I couldn’t ask for anything more. 

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.

The following is the final tournament standings (top 40) and player earnings in the $125,000 Straight Down Fall Classic, presented by Heritage Oaks Bank of Paso Robles:

1. *Jason Gore Gore/Kevin Marsh 64-63—127 ($20,000)
1. *Tim Fleming/Alan Bratton** 63-64—127 ($20,000)
3. Kevin Chappell/James Lovemark 64-65—129 ($11,000)
3. Chris Tidland/Sam McNaughton 65-64—129 ($11,000)
5. Don Hurter/Tom Krystn 63-67—130 ($9,000)
6. Chez Reavie/Rob Mangini 64-67—131 ($7,500)
6. Fred Couples/Brad Shaw 69-62—131 ($7,500)
8. Roger Tambellini/Mike Rowley 65-67—132 ($6,000)
9. Martin Chuck/Dean Menante 66-67—133 ($4,000)
9. Ricky Barnes/Don Woodward 64-69—133 ($4,000)
9. Dennis Pauslon/Scott Almquist 67-66—133 ($4,000)
12. Matt Hansen/George Kelley 68-66—134 ($1,625)
12. Steve Pate/John Pate 66-68—134 ($1,625)
12. Jeff Brehaut/Todd Barsotti 65-69—134 ($1,625)
12. Jim Gormley/Jeff Gilchrist 66-68—134 ($1,625)
16. Scott Simpson/Dave Simpson 67-68—135 ($1,250)
16. John Carlson/Kurt Schuette 67-68—135 ($1,250)
18. Rob Grube/Jim Lehman 70-66—136 ($1,000)
18. Greg Avant/Warren Vickers 67-69—136 ($1,000)
18. Ed Loar/Jeff Seibert 67-69—136 ($1,000)
18. Scott Gutschewski/Bill Gottsch 69-67—136 ($1,000)
22. Scott Cartwright/Tim Michelsen 70-67—137 ($800)
22. Dan Forsman/Dan Gimble 72-65—137 ($800)
24. Danny Pelle/Jim Strickland 69-69—138 ($700)
24. Charley Hoffman.Ed Cuff Jr. 70-68—138 ($700)
24. Rick Leibovich/Geoff Couch 70-68—138 ($700)
27. Phillip Bleakney/Bowen Osborn 71-68—138 ($500)
27. Casey Reamer/Kemp Richardson 67-72—139 ($500)
29. John Schroeder/Chris Hughes 69-71—140 ($500)
30. Danny Mullhean/Bill Brockford 70-71—141 ($500)
30. Jim Miller/Lance Parker 71-70—141 ($500)
32. Jim Schaeffer/Keith Kinsel 72-70—142 ($500)
32. Andy Shuman/Bob Stonikas 72-70—142 ($500)
32. Greg Villenueve/Jason Pridmore 72-70—142 ($500)
35. Travis Bertoni/Larry Ward 72-71—143 ($125)
35. Tom Kelly/Michael Blodgett 67-76—143 ($125)
35. Mark Sherman/John Justus 70-73—143 ($125)
35. Jack Druga/John Lipari 71-72—143 ($125)
39. Strohman/Gill (Even) 71-73—144
39. Wilson/Argo (Even) 70-74—144
39. Heyn/Peterson (Even) 74-70—144
42. Mallory/John (+1) 73-72—145
42. Walter/Mckinley (+1) 71-74—145
42. Clifford/Zambri (+1) 72-73—145
45. Smith/Wurtz (+2) 70-76—146
45. Wilson/Daou (+2) 73-73—146
45. Patton/Nelson (+2) 74-72—146
48. Cliver/Hertzing (+3) 75-72—147
48. Stegall/Tidik (+3) 77-70—147
50. King/La Chappa (+4) 74-74—148
50. Schroeder/Hillman (+4) 72-76—148
50. Allaire/Pouloit (+4) 73-75—148
53. Fitzgerald/Reese (+5) 74-75—149
53. Larkin/Mendez (+5) 70-79—149
53. Dannevik/Blair (+5) 79-70—149
56. Labiak/Lawson (+7) 72-79—151
56. Yoshitake/Colligan (+7) 75-76—151
58. Gill/Porteous (+9) 76-77—153
58. Youpa/Popoff (+9) 75-78—153
60. Pietro/Flynn (+11) 76-79—155
60. Martinez/Hernandez (+11) 76-79—155
62. Stigall/Bauseman (+13) 75-82—157

* Tie after 4-hole playoff did not produce a winner (darkness).
**Low club professional team worth $2,500.

Alan Bratton saved his best for last, with cart lights adding to the drama and nearly darkness on the 18th green Sunday night at San Luis Obispo Country Club.

Bratton, hitting from the right fairway on the fourth playoff hole, nearly ended the long-building drama is a split second.

His approach shot hit the pin, stopping within 2 feet of the cup and setting up a birdie that would ultimately tie the 12th annual Straight Down Fall Classic.

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

Gore made a 10 footer for his birdie. He had two birdie putts from about that distance that slid to the right and could have ended it.

“That was the fourth time? I kind of lost track,” said Gore after the tournament.

“I just never put enough break on them,” said Gore of the playoff putts that slid right.

“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,” Gore said.

Both teams (Tim Fleming/Bratton, 63-64–127) and (Gore/Kevin Marsh,64-63–127) finished at 17 under par for the weekend, one shot back of the tournament record of 126 that was set by Paul Stankowski and Brad Payne in 2001.

Bratton and Fleming were tied forthe lead going into Sunday’s final round.

Finishing in a tie for third place for the weekend was the team of Chris Tidland and amateur Sam McNaughton (65-64–129). Tidland, a Nationwide Tour pro who will be seeking his tour card at the PGA Tour qualifying school next month, earned $11,000.

Kevin Chappell and teammate James Lovemark (64-65–129) split third place honors. Chappell, the 2008 NCAA individual champion from UCLA, also pockets $11,000 for the weekend.