Doug Garwood and Joe Bendetti shot 7-under-ar 65 to win the 18th annual Straight Down Fall Classic by one stroke over Arron Oberholser and Jim Strickland at San Luis Obispo Country Club.
Garwood, from Valencia, and Bendetti, of Austin, Texas, who had never met before the tournament, finished at 63-65–128, 16-under-par.
“We only had one hole that we were outside of two feet for par,” said Garwood, who plays on the Champions Tour. “That was on No. 8, and I rolled in about a 14-footer for par. That was our only little danger spot.”
Oberholser, of San Luis Obispo, and Strickland finished at 66-63–129, while Travis Bertoni of Paso Robles and Cal Poly SLO, and Justin Hendrix were third at 67-65–132.
Tom and Thomas Lehman tied for fourth at 66-67–133, while Fred Couples and Brad Shaw totaled 66-70–136 to finish in a tie for ninth that included Tom Pernice Jr. and Ed Cuff Jr., who totaled 68-68, and Olin Browne Jr. and Steve John, who also came in at 68-68.
Bendetti (left) and Garwood (right) are pictured with Garwood’s mentor, Lloyd Anderson.
