Former Sooners Klaus, Blundell battle through epic 15-hole playoff to decide OKC Golf & Country Club championship
By Ken MacLeod
Former University of Oklahoma teammates and fast friends Ben Klaus and Ben Blundell saw just about enough of each other last Sunday.
After playing together in the final two rounds of the men’s club championship at Oklahoma Golf & Country Club, the two finished tied at 4-under. So it was back to the first hole for a playoff. Under rules set by Director of Golf Tim Fleming, the duo would play the first hole, second hole and then back up 18 and continue that loop if necessary.
It was necessary.
For the next three plus hours, the two battled around those three holes. If one made a birdie, the other capped him. If it took a 15-foot par putt to extend the match, one Ben or the other would knock it in.
Finally on the 15th playoff hole, Blundell pushed his tee shot on 18 to the right and was unable to reach the green in two. He tried to aggressively hole out both his third and fourth shots, leading to a double bogey and allowing Klaus to comfortably three-putt from the back of the green for the win.
“We were both determined that it was going to take a birdie to win,” Blundell said. “By the time we started the second loop, I think we both felt we were going to have to be a little more aggressive. But after that second loop until the final hole, it’s all kind of a blur to be honest with you.”
“That’s exactly the way it felt,” Klaus concurred. “We were trading big putts throughout to extend the match and high fiving. There was a lot of respect for the golf that was being played. It was kind of a Rocky and Apollo thing.”
The win by Klaus was his second club championship, having previously won in 2020, and snapped a string of two in a row by Blundell, who also won in 2015.
It was by far the longest playoff either had been a part of or even heard of, but remarkably there was a 16-hole playoff on the Dakotas Tour on the same day.
“I’ve been in a lot of playoffs but none that have gone most than three holes,” Blundell said.
“It was unbelievable, not just for going 15 holes but for the level of golf being played,” Fleming said. “That they are both former OU golfers, great friends, were in each other’s weddings, just makes it an even better story.”
Blundell said some friends texted him when they were leaving Grand Lake as the playoff was beginning. They drove home two hours, changed and got to the club to see the finish.
For the tournament, Blundell shot rounds of 67-73-69 on the par-71 course which this fall will host the prestigious Stephens Cup and next spring the USGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Klaus shot 69-71-69.
Blundell, from Rowlett, Texas, played four years at Oklahoma, the first three for previous coach Jim Ragan, while Klaus, who helped Edmond North to three consecutive state championships, transferred to OU from Vanderbilt when Ryan Hybl became coach in 2009.