While it’s still about a month away, the field for the annual Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational is taking shape.

As of this week, some of the players who have already entered what will be the 38^th Invitational (November 19-22) include former winners Rocco Mediate (1999), Kevin Sutherland (2000), Olin Browne (2001) and two-time defending champion Tommy Armour III.

Others in the mix include 2010 LPGA rookie-to-be Mina Harigae of Monterey, former Stevenson standout Rob Grube, former AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am winner Matt Gogel, this past weekend’s Champions Tour winner John Cook, 2002 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem, Bubba Watson and 2006 Walmart First Tee Open champ Scott Simpson.

One of golf’s most unique events, the PBI—which is held at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and Del Monte GC– is the only tournament that features players from the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, LPGA Tour and Nationwide Tour competing side-by-side for the same $300,000 purse. To make things fair, the tournament utilizes an innovative tee-placement system based on the average length of shots on each tour.

“We make sure the courses are set up in a way where no matter what tour you’re on, you’re hitting the same iron into the green,” tournament director Bill Sendell said. “The players love the event. It’s a relaxing week for them where their families can enjoy the Peninsula.”

As part of its uniqueness, the tournament is free to the public with no tickets required. Spectators also have “inside the ropes” access which means they can follow their favorite players directly down the fairways.

For some of the players, the PBI will be an early look at the changes that have been made to Pebble Beach in preparation for the 2010 U.S. Open. Another aspect of this year’s PBI will be Armour III’s chase of a record third straight title under what could be easier circumstances. Armour, who last year became the first back-to-back winner in tournament history, turned 50 on Oct. 8 so he’ll now compete from the Champions Tour tees.

Stocker Cup: A trio of locals will be in the field when the 18^th annual Stocker Cup gets underway Thursday at The Preserve GC in Carmel.

Set to tee off on the acclaimed, Tom Fazio-Sandy Tatum designed layout are four-time Northern California Player of the Year and California Golf Hall of Famer Casey Boyns of Pacific Grove, Monterey resident Steve John and Carmel’s Jerry Ledzinski.

Overall, the field will include multiple state champions and USGA participants from 14 states as well as Japan and Canada. That group includes 2004 and 2007 champion Craig Doell (Canada), 2007 Japan Mid-Am champ Nick Ushijima (Japan) and 2009 Ohio Mid-Am champ Bill Williamson.

One of the top amateur events in the nation, the Stocker Cup (72 holes, stroke play) is played in memory of Peter Stocker, who developed Rancho San Carlos (now Santa Lucia Preserve).

Lady Otter Invite: The No.19 ranked CSU-Monterey Bay women’s golf team will host the 10^th annual Lady Otter Invitational Monday and Tuesday at Bayonet GC. Among the teams slated to join the Otters are CSU Chico, CSU Sonoma, Grand Canyon University and Western Washington University.

At last year’s Fall Invite, CSUMB finished second with then-junior Cicilia Chudivan taking the individual championship. Chudivan who won the Western Washington Invite earlier this month, currently ranks No.2 among all D-II females in the nation in par-4 scoring (4.10) and par-5 scoring (4.81).

Both Monday and Tuesday’s rounds (18 holes) will start at 8:30 a.m.

Q-School: Former P.G. High standout Michael Wilson and former Stanford star Joel Kribel will be among those hoping to advance through next week’s Q-School First Stage Qualifier at nearby San Juan Oaks GC. The field will also include a number of players who are competing in this week’s Monterey Open. The 72-hole event begins Tuesday and ends Thursday.