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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 6, 2005 Brodie Sullivan sinks his final putt to punctuate his victory in the men�s division of the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament at Rogue Valley Country Club. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Teen Titan: Sullivan wins SOGT Long birdie putt on final hole secures dramatic comeback victory for 18-year-old South Medford grad By DON HUNT Mail Tribune With one flick of his putter on the 18th green, Brodie Sullivan produced one of the most dramatic finishes in the 76-year history of the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament Sunday at Rogue Valley Country Club. Sullivan sank an 18-foot, downhill, sidewinding birdie putt, then watched opponent Jimmy White miss a 4-footer that would have tied the match, to secure a 1-up victory in the men’s regular division. A large gallery roared its approval as Sullivan’s long putt hit the heart of the cup, knowing that its hometown boy — just three months removed from South Medford High School — was on the verge of stamping himself into S. O. golf tournament lore. At 18, the slim, shaggy-haired Sullivan became the event’s youngest champion since Tony Joyner in 1982. "I just kept grinding and grinding and finally started to make some putts," said Sullivan amidst a horde of well-wishers after the match. "That was a pressure-packed putt there at the end but I was confident I could at least get it close. My putter carried me all week." Advertisement Sullivan was considered to be a heavy underdog to White, a 23-year-old Eugene resident who played four years of college golf at Oregon and was far more tournament-tested than his younger counterpart. But White, who had played brilliantly all week, drove the ball erratically Sunday and missed a few short putts, including the one at the end. "The momentum really shifted when he made that long putt and I think my nerves got the best of me," said White. "But he played extremely well down the stretch. He deserved to win." White appeared to be in great shape after sinking a 12-foot downhill par putt on the tricky 12th-hole green in the afternoon round that put him two up with six holes to play. Sullivan had the early advantage on that hole as White encountered tree trouble, but Sullivan duffed a chip shot and then missed a short par putt. Such a momentum swing would psychologically torment many young golfers. But not Sullivan. All he did was birdie four of the last six holes. "I just told myself after that (12th) hole that there was a lot of golf left and just stay confident," said Sullivan, who was even with White after Sunday’s morning round. "So much happens so fast out there, you have to just keep playing and not worry when you hit a bad shot." Before a gallery that kept growing larger as neighboring matches ended, Sullivan hit mostly good ones on his way back to the clubhouse. On the 13th hole of the afternoon round, he drilled a 20-foot birdie putt to cut his deficit to one. On the par-3 14th, Sullivan drained a delicate 5- footer to save par and halve the hole. "That was the scariest putt I had the entire tournament," he said. On the 433-yard par-4 15th, Sullivan stuffed his approach shot within 8 feet and drained the putt to even the match. White retook the lead on the 16th when he made a nice sand save while Sullivan bogeyed, but Sullivan continued his birdie binge on the 17th. After his approach shot on the 525-yard, par-5 hole sailed left and hit a spectator — possibly keeping his ball from going out of bounds — he cleverly flopped a difficult wedge shot from above the green to within 3½ feet and sank the putt. The match was even once again, setting the stage for the climactic 18th. Sullivan admitted he was nervous before the match — he woke up 90 minutes before his alarm went off — but reveled in the limelight at the end. "It seemed like everyone was rooting for me," said Sullivan, whose last tournament win was two years ago at a junior tournament in Klamath Falls. "I was loving it. This is something I’ll never forget." Sullivan shot 2-under-par 33 on the back nine Sunday afternoon and 1-under-par 71 over his final 18 holes. But the only shot folks will remember is his last putt that won the tournament. Monday’s Results REGULAR MEN Championship Flight Brodie Sullivan, RVCC, d. Jimmy White, Emerald Valley, 1up. First Flight Jay Klemp, Cedar Links, d. Travis Brink, RVCC, 3 and 2. Second Flight Ian Parent, RVCC, d. Todd Ostenson, Medford, 1up. Second Flight Consolation Rob Neff, Eagle Point, d. Andy Moffatt, Grants Pass, 8 and 7. Third Flight Chris Adderson, RVCC, d. Chad Cota, RVCC, 1up. Third Flight Consolation RJ Glover, Stoneridge, d. Steve Bernard, Medford, 2up. Fourth Flight Bobby Foote, RVCC, d. Mike Gallagher, Cedar Links. Fourth Flight Consolation Travis Boersma, Grants Pass, d. Jon Stark, Broadmore, 2 and 1. Fifth Flight Daryn Clark, Tapps Island, d. Fritz Schuler, RVCC, 22 hole. Fifth Flight Consolation S. Byrd, Stoneridge, d. Kerry Curtis, Medford, 3 and 2. Sixth Flight Mike Gorman, The Plateau Club, d. Matt Van Sant, Eagle Point, 1up. Sixth Flight Consolation Thomas Hamlin, RVCC, d. Lynn Knight, Battle Creek, 1up. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Teen Titan: Sullivan wins SOGT ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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