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. 

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.

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.

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.

In darkness after four playoff holes, the tournament was declared a tie for the 12th annual Fall Classic.

Fleming teamed with fellow Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club amateur Alan Bratton in the 36-hole tournament. Bratton nearly holed out on the fourth playoff hole,  hitting the pin and leaving himself a birdie putt inside 2 feet, after Gore made a 10-footer to secure his team’s birdie.

Gore played with amateur Kevin Marsh, who teamed with Gore at Pepperdine University.

The pros get $20,000, with Fleming picking up another $2,500 as low club professional.

Fleming was also low club pro is 2007.

Teams made up of Tim Fleming and amateur Alan Bratton and PGATour player Jason Gore and partner Kevin Marsh parred the first playoff hole.

Gore saw a 10-foot birdie try from above the hole slide off to the right.

Bratton nailed a short par putt to keep the tournament alive.

Fleming, the head professional at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, watched a 10-footer downhill putt slide to the left on his birdie attempt on the final hole in regulation.

Fleming could have tied he tournament record of 18-under per with his putt.

Instead the two teams headed back to the No. 18 tee box for a playoff at the 12th annual Straight down fall Classic.
The winning team professional takes home $25,000.

If Fleming wins the playoff, he earns another $2,500 as the low club professional.

Both teams are 13 under par, with Tambellini completing 13 holes. Gore and Marsh are two holes behind tambellini.

Tambellini and Rowley, the host of the Straight Down fall Classic, have won the tournament a record three times.

The two co-leaders at the start of  the day — pros Don Hurter and  Tim Fleming, trail the leaders by a stroke. Four other teams are only another shot back at 11 under par as the tourney heads into the home stretch.

They started their day a shot behind Gore and Marsh, a former Pepperdine University golfer who roomed with Gore during their college days.

Six pro-am teams were within two shots at 12:30 p.m., with the tournament leaders approaching the final holes of their front nine.

PGA Tour pro Jason Gore was a leg up, at 12 under par along with his amateur partner Kevin Marsh.
They started today one back of the leaders.

Another shot back were two teams, one led by pro Roger Tambellini and the second by PGA Tour pro Chez Reavie.

At 10-under par first round co-leader Tim Fleming and NCAA 2008 champion turned pro Kevin Chappell are lurking along with Ricky Barnes and Fred Couples.

Couples was ahead of the field and playing the back nine, starting his day in a tie for 21st in the 62-team field.

At 11:30 a.m. the tempereature at the No. 4 tee box was 83.2 degrees. the heat index was 89.5 degrees.

A very slight breeze is blowing at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. The high for Sunday is 83.4 so far.

Couples is playing with amateur partner Brad Shaw of the Los Angeles Country Club.

Couples’ team was 8-under par for the tournament at the turn. There was a gallery of close to 100 people follow Couples and team of Denny Pelle/Jim Strickland down the 10th fairway.

Couples’ team then birdied No. 10 to go 9 under par.

Couples, the 2009 captain of the U.S. team in the Presidents Cup, was three under at the start of his Sunday round, tied for 21st on the overall leader board.

Overnight leaders Tim Fleming teamed with Alan Bratton  and Don Hurter with teammate Tom Krystyn have been joined at 10-under par by pro Jason Gore and amateur Kevin Marsh.

Roger Tambellini and Mike Rowley along with Rickey Barnes and amateur Don Woodward are one shot back at nine under par.

The pros are vying for $25,000 in first place money of a total purse of $125,000 in the tournament at the San Luis Obispo Country Club.

Felix, a leftie, borrowed tournament host Mike Rowley’s right-handed driver and smacked a ball from a tee about 20 yards to the applause of an appreciative gallery.

“Felix is going to learn how to hit a golf ball really far some day I’m sure,” said Jim Clarke, the first tee starter for all 12 of the Straight Down Fall Classics.

Tambellini and Rowley are the defending champions at the Fall Classic, and have won the event three times.

They are playing today with the team of pro Ricky Barnes and Don Woodward.

Barnes and Woodward are two shots off the lead of 9-under par as the final round begins. Rowley and Tambellini are three back.

While watching players warm up Sunday morning on the driving range, Holzschuh found himself joining the tournament as a caddie.

Cadddies and other volunteers have long been consider the backbone of the 36-hole pro-am event. Volunteers from San Luis Obispo Country Club and throughout San Luis Obispo County assist in caddy duties, working as marshals and other duties.

Holzschuh jumped from behind the ropes to inside the ropes on the driving range at the request of another caddie, Mike Wozniak.

“We need a caddie,” said Wozniak — pro Ed Loar’s caddie in the tournament. Wozniak, a radio talk show co-host knew, Holzschuh through his son, Luke Holzschuh, a basketball player at Morro Bay High School.

Holzschuh joined the group of Ed Loar and amateur Jeff Seibbert of the Dallas Athletic Club. The team teed of from the first tee at 9:05 a.m. and headed down the fairway.

“He’s nervous as a cat out there,” said Holzschuh friend Tom Trainor, who is visiting from Sacramento to watch the tournament.

The tournament is presented by Heritage Oaks Bank of Paso Robles and is played a the San Luis Obispo Country Club.

It is free and open to the public. Sixty two teams of pros and amateurs are in this year’s tournament. The forecast highs for Sunday are the mid-80s with sunny skies.

The 18-hole leaders of the tournament are club pro Tim Fleming and amateur Alan Bratton. They are one shot up on four other teams, at 9 under par on the par-72 layout.

The leaders tee off at 10:05 a.m.

Their nine-under par 63 at San Luis Obispo Country Club stood up on a day of unseasonably warm weather and lighter than expected winds.

Close on the heels of the Oklahoma City pro and his amateur partner are four other pro-am groups.

Jason Gore-Kevin Marsh, Rickey Barnes-Don Woodward, Chez Reavie-Rob Mangini and Kevin Chappell-James Lovemark are all at eight-under par after the teams posted 64s.

Chappell, the 2008 NCAA golf champion from UCLA, teamed with USC’s Lovemark for the weekend.

After an early birdie and a bogey Chappell converted an eagle putt at No. 5.

“We made pars the rest of the front nine until No. 9.,” said Chappell, who has competed on the Nationwide and PGA tours since his graduation.   “Jamie hit out of bounds left and I hit it in the the middle of the green off the tee, to like the back of the green and two putted for birdie. I birdied 10, he birdied 11. I birdied 12 and 13 and he birdied 18 to get us to eight under.”

Fleming and Bratton finished tied for 6th place in the 2007 Straight Down Fall Classic. he was the low club professional last year, a factor that would add another $5,000 to the first-place winner’s share of $25,000 if the leads holds up.

Fleming is the head golf professional at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. He was the PGA South Central player of the year form 2001 to 2007, and competed in the PGA Championship from 2001 through  2005.

“I was surprised by the size of the crowds for a Saturday but the weather and the quality of the field brought the people out,” said tournament director John Ronca Jr.

Ronca has been tournament director since the inception of the Straight Down Fall Classic. He said the tournament’s push  with three charities — The ALS Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and Mission Prep High School  — has sparked additional interest this year.

The tournament is free and open to the public and therefore no actual head count for spectators is possible. Groups can be spread throughout the 18 holes of the San Luis Obispo Country Club.

A crowd of more than 300 people, however, converged around the No. 18 green late Saturday when the two foursomes of Roger Tambellini and Mike Rowley and pro Ricky Barnes and Don Woodward  finished their rounds.

“The story of Don Woodward made it a special event in the community,” said Ronca. Woodward was recently diagnosed with ALS, a fatal disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The weather forecast for Sunday, traditionally a larger spectator day, is for sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-80s.

Among the top pro golfers in the field this year are Fred Couples, Charley Hoffman, Scott Simpson and 2008 Canadian Open winner Chez Reavie.

Tee-times on Sunday start at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“Ricky is solid. He played solid the whole day. He’s a big hitter and and his short game is right there,”said Woodward, who was recently diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“He made a lot of birdies. He started out on No. 1 and we just kind of kept rolling. I helped a couple of times, made a couple of par putts that helped us from losing any strokes and then I birdied 17,” said Woodward. “So I contributed which was my goal and Rickey is obviously a professional golfer and he played like it today. I had a save on 14. It was the par three and both of us we’re really out of the mix. I had a nice chip to about eight feet and made the putt. I also made a nice putt on No. 11 got a birdie there.”

It was an emotional time on the golf course for Woodward, with a large gallery of about 300 people watching Woodward nearly nail a long birdie on the final hole.

“Everything, actually the tee off was very emotional. I got a big cheer. I think everybody is just right behind me, supporting me and they want me to battle this disease and I’m gonna,” said Woodward.