(Photos by Michael Fischer) Carroll's Wade Pettitt celebrates after sinking a birdie putt in sudden death to win the 87th annual Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament Sunday in Spencer. Pettitt defeated Trent Peterson of Eagan. Mn. to win the tournament.

There were really two stories at work Sunday as the 87th Annual Northwest Am Golf Tournament entered the final 18 holes of play in the championship flight. Could Wade Pettitt and Trent Peterson continue to battle stroke-for-stroke for another round in the humid weather, with a heat index topping 100 degrees?

Bill Manske, of Algona, ponders what might have been as he watches regulation play conclude on the eighteenth hole Sunday, August 2, 2008, at the Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament in Spencer. Manske, a longtime Northwest Amateur crowd favorite, had been in second place before the start of the championship round; a 74 placed Manske in a tie for third with Brett Benson of Jackson, MN with a final score of 11 under 277.

And could, Algona's Bill Manske, winner of three straight senior flight titles at the Northwest Am, continue to hang with the "young men" in the same physically exhausting conditions.

The answer to the first question was yes - Pettitt and Peterson would battle for 36 holes and need one more to decide the 2008 Northwest Am champ.

The answer to the second question was also yes - the defending three-time senior flight champion was up to the task, although a bit tired at the end, after finishing the four day tournament -11 under and tied for third place in the championship round.

Repeating a scenario that has become frequent in recent years, the tourney needed to go to a sudden death shoot-out with Pettitt, of Carroll, placing a perfect second shot within 10-feet of the tee on the 430-yard, par 4, 16th hole - the starting point for the sudden death round.

Trent Peterson of Eagan, MN. celebrates as his birdie putt drops in to tie Wade Pettitt on the 18th hole during the championship round Sunday, August 2, 2008, at the Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament. Peterson, who shot a -16 in regulation, would place second after losing a sudden death playoff to Wade Pettitt.

Eagan, Minn.-native, Peterson, whose second shot caught the edge of the green, just missed a long putt for birdie on the hole, setting up the dramatic finish for Pettitt who followed a couple of feet behind the slow rolling putt before celebrating as it dropped into the cup.

"It's a hot day. Towards the end, the whole final 18, with weather like this, you've got to stay away from trouble," explained Pettitt. "I had a few hiccups here and there, but I was able to salvage those."

"Just give yourself a chance to putt for birdie and you're doing all right."

"He made everything," said Peterson. "He putted so well. It was great to watch. He played great all 36 holes."

Both golfers credited the excellent condition of the course for making it such a strong competition.

"I've played here every year since high school," said Pettitt, who just finished his junior year as a member of the Drake University golf squad. "It's fun to play. It's a great course."

Pettitt will add Northwest Am's championship to his state high school titles in 2004 and 2005. Between four brothers, the family owns five state high school titles; including the Class 3A 2008 title, owned by brother, Kirby who finished 5-under in eighth place in Sunday's championship flight.

The dramatic conclusion was set up by a change of fortune on the final hole of the tournament.

With Pettitt, of Carroll, leading by two strokes at -17, and just the 18th hole to play - a hole he had birdied in two of three attempts prior over the course of the weekend - it looked as though Eagan, Minnesota's Trent Peterson was about to run out of time.

But Peterson as he had all day, focused on just staying the course. "To start the day I was five back. With 36 holes you've got a long way to go," said Peterson. "With 18 goals I cut the lead from five to three. I just figured if I kept playing good golf, I could continue trying to cut into the lead.

"Nothing's over until it's over."

Pettitt hammered hit tee shot, a bit too well in his estimation, landing it amidst some trees, blocking a clear path to the hole. After chipping out to the fareway for a better look, the former Indians Hills and Drake University golfer lofted a shot that just cleared the green, laying on the edge of the grass.

With the clubhouse crowd watching alongside an armada of golf carts, Peterson took hold of the opportunity. Hs second shot on the par 4, 18 landed within three-feet of the hole. He would convert the putt to improve to -16 under.

Pettitt would fail to convert his chip attempt for par, settling on the bogey and setting up the extra hole playoff.

Hole 11 would see the two men flip-flop leads, Peterson scoring a birdie to move in front by a stroke; but Pettitt tied things again with a birdie on 12, and retook the lead on Hole 13 when Peterson recorded a bogey. After the 15th hole, Pettitt led by three strokes, at 17-under; but the final couple of holes led to the exciting finish.

Senior flight champion, Manske entered Sunday's championship flight with a 9-under score, second after the first 36 holes of qualifying, trailing only Brett Benson of Jackson, Minn.

Manske remained in second place at 13-under heading into the final 18 holes on the day after shooting 2-under to start Sunday's championship action. He would end the day with a four-round score of 277.

Manske didn't argue that a 36-hole championship flight was designed for younger legs.

"I agree 100 percent. I'm shot," Manske said, signing his score card while still sitting in the cart. "I can't even talk and I'm outta breath. I use no excuses."

Manske was happy with the support he received from the fans this year, especially on the last day. "I thought I had my best chance this year. It would have been great to win this, but it just wasn't in the cards for this old timer.

Manske said he loves to play this tournament, as much for the people as for the course. "Bob Rose, Bob and Kayleen, and all of the people here are very special in my heart."

Spencer's Craig Cunningham and Tory Hart finished 34 and 35 respectively in the championship flight, posting scores of 297 and 298 -- 9-over and 10-over.

2008 NORTHWEST AMATEUR

Championship Flight Final Standings

1. *Wade Pettitt, Carroll 68-70-64-70-272 -16

2. Trent Peterson, Eagan, Minn. 65-73-67-67-272 -16

3. Bill Manske, Algona 69-66-68-74-277 -11

3. Brett Benson, Jackson, Minn. 68-65-72-72-277 -11

5. Ryan Peterson, Eagan, Minn. 69-69-69-72-279 -9

6. Terry Cook, Johnston 71-66-70-74-281 -7

7. Marc Calahan, Cedar Falls 71-70-73-68-282 -6

8. Kirby Pettitt, Carroll 68-68-75-72-283 -5

9. Kyle McCartan, Plano, Texas 73-68-73-70-284 -4

9. Bob Brummel, Orange City 70-71-72-71-284 -4

11. Tom Carlson, Sioux Falls, S.D. 75-70-68-72-285 -3

12. Chris Kramer, W. Des Moines 67-71-75-73-286 -2

13. Jim Curell, Boone 70-71-73-73-287 -1

14. Brian Schultz, LeMars 73-68-72-75-288 E

14. Steve Kruger, Sioux Center 69-74-73-72-288 E

16. Nate Barbee, Dakota Dunes, S.D. 70-71-72-76-289 +1

16. Joe Bethel, Ankeny 71-72-71-75-289 +1

18. Joshua Manske, Algona 68-76-74-72-290 +2

18. Alex Bair, Waukee 74-71-71-74-290 +2

18. Jay Goeser, Norwalk 67-72-75-76-290 +2

21. Matt Yeager, Edina, Minn. 72-73-71-75-291 +3

22. Gary Ellis, Urbandale 66-76-75-75-292 +4

22. Steve Kahler, Marion 76-67-73-76-292 +4

22. Chris Vandell, Des Moines 69-74-73-76-292 +4

25. JP Kramer, Chicago, Ill. 72-73-75-72-293 +5

25. Tim McKnight, Indianola 72-72-72-77-293 +5

27. Brent Goodenow, Johnston 71-73-73-77-294 +6

27. Brian Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn. 72-72-74-76-294 +6

27. Thomas Sandie, Urbandale 73-72-72-77-294 +6

30. Aaron Clausen, Storm Lake 69-72-82-72-295 +7

31. Brian Allison, Johnston 71-73-76-76-296 +8

31. Jamie Faidley, Colfax 69-76-75-76-296 +8

33. John Grask, W. Des Moines 72-73-80-72-297 +9

33. Craig Cunningham, Spencer 72-72-79-74-297 +9

35. Tory Hart, Spencer 73-71-76-78-298 +10

35. Scott Swanson, Ankeny 69-73-78-78-298 +10

37. Ben Kern, Algona 73-69-75-82-299 +11