SLO County Golf, Wine & Real EstateGolf, Wine & Real Estate News and Events Blog
Charley Hoffman wins the Straight DownSunday, November 13, 2005 After Saturday, there was a three-way logjam at the top of the Straight Down Fall Classic leaderboard, with two other teams within two strokes of the leaders going into today's final round of the $115,000 pro-am scratch golf tournament. Mark Sherman and partner Jeff Wilson, Mark Johnson with Pat Duncan and a third team of Dennis Paulson and Scott Almquist all shot 7-under 65s on a sunny but breezy Saturday at San Luis Obispo Country Club. But talented amateur Jeff Wilson was clutch all day today. His pro partner Mark Sherman needed one more stellar shot to force a playoff at the ninth annual Straight Down Fall Classic. Wilson had just hit out of a greenside bunker on the 18th hole. But the ball, played from below his feet, came out heavy. He needed to chip in from the fringe, about 14 feet away. Wilson's effort lipped out, and the air went out of the balloon for Sherman and Wilson, who dropped two shots on the final two holes of the day. Charley Hoffman -- who will join the PGA Tour in January -- along with amateur partner Ed Cuff Jr. -- picked up the win after Sherman and Wilson bogeyed the two final holes of the day. Hoffman and Cuff posted an 8-under-par 64 Sunday. They began the day one shot back of the three teams in front, including Sherman and Wilson. Cuff becomes the first amateur to be on the winning team three times. The 1998 state amateur champion also won last year partnered with Tom Pernice Jr. at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. Cuffs pars gave Hoffman a chance to go for birdies, which helped him gather the $20,000 in first-place prize money. The team posted nine birdies Sunday, but only two on the final seven holes. It was enough. I was able to attend yesterday and posted some photos of the event at flickr.com. We followed Tom and Jim Lehman for a few holes and watched "very tall" Roger Tambellini tee off on 11. Read related articles: Trio of teams tied at Straight Down Winning opportunity knocks late at Straight Down golf tourney The Tribune, Larry Mauter |
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