Just as He Drew it Up: Braugh Sinks Clutch Putt to Steal Automatik Open Title

SUNNYVALE, CA (Golf Digest)

Veteran Automatik Open participant Drew Braugh cut his athletic teeth in the rough streets of Los Altos, donning Lightning TRS 80 roller blades and a fluorescent pink Mylec hockey stick, while winning less than 40% of his roller hockey competitions as a regular mid to late round pick in playground style team selections with his fellow class of 1989 Santa Rita Bobcats. Channeling childhood lessons of teamwork and perseverance, Braugh calmly sank a 20-foot putt on the 18^th hole to get Team Lady Bugs to -8, which was just enough to hold off the field in the 9^th annual Automatik Open.

“It means a lot to me.  Between raising two kids, starting numerous businesses, drinking 22s of Pete’s Wicket Ale and countless hours of attempting unsuccessfully to catch my first fish in the heavily stocked Lake Siskiyou just minutes from my house, I don’t often have time to play during the year, notwithstanding the significant investment I have made in my golf equipment.  But I am a competitor and pride myself on rising to the occasion which I was able to do today”, pronounced self-proclaimed expert angler and the normally respectful Braugh, who despite devoting a career to conservation and being a card carrying member of Green Peace and Habitat for Humanity, failed to repair a single divot while playing as a guest at the prestigious and immaculately manicured Los Altos Country Club, even though it is legitimately national divot replacement awareness month.  

Team Lady Bugs, comprised of Braugh, Mike Popek, Matt Accola and Andrew Pattisson birdied the last three holes to get to -8, giving Pattisson his first career green jersey.   “I am just so happy.  I have been grinding over a green jersey for years.  This means so much to me”, pronounced an ecstatic Pattisson, who credited a pre-round meal of Safeway Signature saltines and concentrated orange juice with giving him an extra boost of energy, and was noticeably relieved when teammate Accola arrived on time for the round after selfishly arriving 45 minutes late and causing massive disruption to a 12-person live fantasy football draft the night before which had been on the calendar for months.  

Tourney champs with the honorary Sue Kaplan

As has come to be expected, there was no shortage of suspense in this year’s event, as Team Triple Lindy (Scott Petersmeyer, Kevin Murphy and father son duo Ben and James Wilson who became the darlings of this years’ tournament), headed to the 18^th tee with a one stroke lead and controlling their own destiny.  But after a very unclutch team

captain Petersmeyer chilly dipped a routine chip shot on the 18^th hole, and Triple Lindy could not convert a 25-foot par putt to tie, the Lady Bugs officially clinched the prestigious title.  “I am not going to lie.  This really hurts.  I choked on that chip shot, period full stop.  It will haunt me for years”, exclaimed a desolate Petersmeyer, who earlier set a tournament record that can never be broken when he lost the white tiger ball on his tee shot on hole 1, but whose mood picked up slightly when he received numerous post tournament text message apologies from participants who previously complained about the teams but later recognized that the very close scores once again reflected an extremely equitable team composition.  

At 10:32, a burr riddled Petersmeyer unsuccessfully hunts for his team’s White Tiger ball following his 10:30 tee time. 

Team Bridesman tied Triple Lindy for second at -7, with Gym Tanning Nap, captained by Ian Ritchie who dunked a 150-yard sand shot for eagle during Friday’s practice round, finished fourth at -5.  Team Heat Boys finished dead freaking last at -3, and caused quite a stir when rumors of another white tiger ball transgression circulated following the competition, which the tournament’s integrity committee, led by Ben Wilson, immediately announced they would investigate.   

2026 Automatik Open crew striking their best Benj pose before the round. 

In other news, a more mature crew curbed its intake this year with less than 63 adult beverages and 17 Zyn pouches being consumed during the competition; and as many as 11 tacos and 7 Jorgy Jacks being left over from the Champions Breakfast.  Shockingly, no injuries were reported and only 22 complaints about the tournament’s format and teams were lodged. 

Clay Armistead took home the long drive award with a majestic 287-yard drive on the 10^th hole which tournament organizers immediately informed Armistead he won, and then followed it up with a 240-yard three wood and a 25-foot putt for the event’s first ever own ball eagle.   Pattisson won the closest to pin award, Doug Ellsworth took home the Benj hole award, and Justin Usher won the tournament’s second annual 50/50 raffle and then generously donated the full $1,000 to cancer research. Danny Jorgensen received the Super Darryl of the weekend award for leaving the round early for his son’s AYSO soccer practice, and later indicated he is not sure if he will have enough time for next year’s event as he has a nice little Saturday at Home Depot planned.  

While the final tallies are coming in, it is anticipated that the group will raise over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society this year.  

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