There were a lot of ‘oohs' and ‘aahs' but no one went home an instant millionaire at Monday's 7th annual Hancock Cup & Bulldog Million Dollar Shootout at the Santa Maria Country Club.

In all, 22 people took a shot at the million dollars. Seven came close - including two who came within inches of holing out before their golf balls rolled the wrong way.

This was the largest field ever assembled for the tournament. Hosted by the Allan Hancock College Foundation, 32 four-person teams took part in the annual scramble.

“We usually cut it off at 120 players but because of increased responses this year, we expanded the field to 128,” said Tim Flemming, the Executive Director of the Hancock Foundation. “It was a great response. We have a huge number of teams. A large part of that success comes from the people who come out to play in the tournament year after year and from the sponsors who support Hancock College year after year.”

The Hancock Cup raises about $25,000 for the college - money that goes to help students, support college programs and to buy new classroom equipment.

It's a four-person scramble played in the ‘best ball' format with champions crowned in both low gross (no handicap) and low net (with handicap figured in) divisions.

“There'll be some hot scores out here today,” said tournament chairman Tony Cossa. “The course is in great condition, it's a really nice day to play. The weather is perfect.”

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But the highlight of the day comes right after the tournament wraps up.

That's when a select few take part in the Bulldog Million Dollar Shootout.

“This year we have 22 people who qualified for the Shootout,” said Flemming. “That's the most ever. We usually have about 18 people qualify for the shot at a million dollars but this year - again because of the support of our sponsors - we'll have 22.”

One person from each of the major sponsors' teams gets a shot at the million dollars. That put the first 19 people on the tee. Plus three people had their names drawn at random bringing the total up to 22.

The ball is teed up 135-yards from the hole on the 18th green. Each golfer has one shot and if any can sink a hole-in-one, then they get a million dollar payday.

“What's unusual about this,” said Flemming. “is that we can have more than one winner. If two or more people get a hole-in-one, then they each win the million.”

Bill Koster and Mike Portman came close - very close - to becoming instant millionaires.

Both brought the crowd to its feet, hitting their shots about three- or four-inches from the cup, only to see them roll the wrong way and end up about eight-feet from a huge payday.

Ernie Amarillas, Randy Betz, Doug Dantzer, Lew Parker and John Teixeira had the crowd roaring with solid shots to the green that were close but rolled away from the cup - ending up between 15- and 20-feet away from instant riches.

The tournament itself was a big day for the automotive crowd.

The Johnson Team went home with its fourth low gross title while Rob Stowasser's Stowasser Pontiac, Buick, GMC Team claimed the low net crown.

Johnson had just returned from Concord, N.C., where his U.S. Army team won the Top Fuel championship at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals.

Johnson's foursome - David Ikola, Jim Allen, Bryn Smith and Johnson - shot a 17-under par 55 then had to win a card-off against the Santa Maria Ford Team of Geno Berban, Mike Portman, Randy Renfrow and Cameron Stephens which also finished with a 55.

“We're just Alan's caddies. We carry his tires and anything else he wants,” said Smith. “Alan is the engineer. He's the one who puts it all together. The Wizard of Foxen Canyon is back. But seriously, my goal is to never putt. If I never putt, we win.”

Third place, with a 14-under 58, went to the Home Motors foursome of Ryan Arensdorf, Nathan Beebe, Mike Hunstad and Tim Ritchie.

Stowasser's foursome - Mike Sell, Michael Rocha, John Tunnell and Stowasser - shot a handicap-adjusted 50.6 to unseat the Teixeira family for the low net title.

“We had a great time,” said Stowasser. “Big John Tunnell was our long ball hitter.”

“I get to play about once a week,” said Tunnell “It was a lot of fun to come out to play today with the guys.”

“I don't get out to the golf course very often,” said Rocha. “I work for Rob so I can only get out here when he gives me the day off - which means ‘never'”.

“(Mega 97.1 FM's) Rick Blaemire usually plays on our team,” said Stowasser. “But he couldn't make it out here today which was huge for us. It let me replace him with Big John and he carried us to victory.”

Last year's low gross champions, the Teixeiras - Glenn, John, Allan and Dean - came in second with a 50.9.

Third place went to the MVE Institutional Team of Bill Koster, Robert Simons, Bob White and Roger Welt.

“I went to Hancock in 1974,” said Smith, who still has one year of athletic eligibility left after heading off to a 13-year major league pitching career with the Expos, Cardinals and Rockies. “I've played in this tournament every year. We are all out here supporting our community college. It is important for the people of Santa Maria and the Central Coast to support our college and that's what makes this tournament so special - year after year, the community is here.”

September 16, 2008