Wagner Edges Romo for Win at American Century Championship

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Actor Jack Wagner birdied the par-3 17th hole and survived a bogey on the final hole for a 3-point win over Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo at the American Century Championship. Wagner outscored Romo, 80-77, to become the fourth multiple winner in the event’s 22-year history. The event used a Stableford scoring system where points were awarded for pars or better.

The 51-year-old Wagner, who also won in 2006, led after each of the three rounds. He made 18 birdies over the 54 holes at the 6,865-yard Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Wagner shot 69 with seven birdies (worth 3 points apiece) and four bogeys Sunday. Romo shot a bogey-free 66, and his 31 points were a single-round best for the week.

Chris Chandler and Jeremy Roenick finished tied for third, with 66 points. Eight-time champion Rick Rhoden was fifth with 61 points.

“I just won this golf tournament.” said Wagner “I shot 9 or 10 under par (54-hole total) and won… Back then (2006), it felt more like I held on. Today, the difference was that someone was pushing me to be better.”

Wagner held a 10-point lead through eight holes, but Romo rallied with an eagle 2 on the 315-yard 11th hole to cut the lead to 6 points. Romo moved even closer, 75-73, after a par on the 14th.

Wagner missed a golden opportunity to pull away on the par-5 16th, but missed his 6-foot birdie attempt to the left. But the Emmy-nominated actor regrouped on the next tee and hit his 8-iron approach to 12 feet and made the putt, giving himself a nearly insurmountable 4-point lead heading to the last hole. Romo gained a meaningless point there with a par, but lost any chance of catching Wagner when his 8-iron second shot found the pond to the left of the green.

“I needed to be aggressive there,” said Romo after his long 336-yard drive left him just 165 yards out. “I knew I needed to make eagle to have any chance. It’s disappointing just from the aspect of wanting to win and compete out there. But, you know, Jack deserves all the credit here. He played a great round of golf.”

Wagner, who has played in every Tahoe celebrity event, took home $125,000 for his win. Joe Sakic, a retired hockey star, took home $500,000 for his hole-in-one on the 167-yard 17th hole Sunday, using an 8-iron for his first-ever ace.

Wagner has won his Bel-Air Country Club championship six times and has been runner-up at the Los Angeles club 12 times. He is best known for his acting roles on General Hospital and Melrose Place.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Sakic Earns $1 Million for Hole-in-One at American Century Championship

Sunday July 17th, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Joe Sakic took up the game of golf when he signed his first hockey contract in 1988, but he waited until he was on the big stage at the American Century Champions to make his first hole-in-one.

The 42-year-old Sakic used an 8-iron to ace the 167-yard 17th lakeside hole Sunday and earn the $1 million prize presented by American Century Investments. Half of the money will be donated to the LIVEStrong Foundation, the designated charity of the tournament. The other $500,000 belongs to Sakic, the retired 20-year All-Star center for the Colorado Avalanche.

“I’ve never had a hole-in-one. In fact, I’ve never been close,” said Sakic, who sports a 2 handicap. “Trent (Dilfer) told me it went in, but I didn’t believe him at first. I never imagined this. This is just great. I feel very fortunate to come to this tournament. For three days everyone here makes us feel like pros.”

Sakic gained 8 points for his ace in the modified Stableford format and finished with 50 points for the 54-hole event. It was the fourth ace in the tournament’s 22-year history. Others were made by Rudy Gatlin (1995), Dan Jansen (1999) and Marshall Faulk (2009). Faulk’s was the only other ace on the 17th hole, and he covered the 170-yard shot with a 9-iron.

Sakic played in 13 NHL All-Star games and his teams won two Stanley Cups (1996 and 2001). He served as team captain for 17 consecutive seasons. Among his many awards was the Hart Memorial Trophy for being league MVP in 2001.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

In Football and Golf, Linebacker A.J. Hawk is a Hard Hitter

Sunday, July 17, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – A.J. Hawk turned his baseball cap backwards and grabbed a handful of practice balls as he strolled off to begin his third round at the American Century Championship.

“I’m getting pretty low,” said the muscular Green Bay Packer middle linebacker to a few of the other sports celebrities standing nearby. “Hopefully, I’ll bring them back later.”

He grabbed his driver on the 425-yard first hole while the other players in the his group --quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Matt Schaub -- went with long irons, just hoping to find the fairway on the dogleg right.

“They’re smart. That’s why they’re quarterbacks,” joked the 6’1”, 247-pounder before he blasted his drive over the tall pine trees guarding the right side of the fairway, leaving himself just a 130-yard approach that led to a par.

“I just hit it as hard as I can. I try not to think too much,” said the self-deprecating big man who plays with just one wood (a 10-degree driver) in his bag. “I have issues when I start thinking out there. I just like seeing how far I can hit it. I don’t mess with my clubs, and I don’t practice. I just like to play.”

The only thing that Hawk hits harder than a running back might be a golf ball. The Packers knew he was a hitter when they selected him as the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft coming out of Ohio State, where he won the Lombardi Award as the best interior college lineman.

“I try to use my legs, just like in football,” said the 27-year-old Hawk after another 330-yard drive. “I try to turn my body. People think that because I’m a football player, I can’t turn. But I’ve seen some big old fat dudes who can turn and hit it pretty far.”

Earlier in the week, Hawk won the long-drive contest among the 80 celebrities for the second time in three years. His blast of 337 yards was 15 yards farther than his winning poke from 2009. It was so far that it hit the NBC camera tower at the back end of the practice range.

He had three birdies on Thursday, with his last coming on the 315-yard 11th hole when he drove it to the collar of the green. But he didn’t make any birdies over the last 43 holes of the competition at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Still, he never got frustrated. And he enjoyed the off-season banter with the opposing NFL quarterbacks.

“I can talk to these guys anytime (Tebow and Schaub), but just not so much on game days,” quipped Hawk, the defensive signal caller for the Packers. “I don’t trash talk during games. I’d sound like an idiot. Besides, I have too much to say in the huddle.”

Hawk is heading into his sixth NFL season as a starter after being instrumental in the recent Packers Super Bowl win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He hasn’t missed even one game due to injury, and he’s has been among the team’s top two tacklers in 2009 and 2010. This past season, Hawk had a team-leading 111 tackles.

Clearly, he’s a hitter on and off the golf course.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Wagner Leads Romo by 6 at American Century Championship

Saturday, July 16, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Daytime actor Jack Wagner scored 23 points Saturday, giving him a total of 52 points and a 6-point lead over Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo after two rounds of the American Century Championship. The 54-hole celebrity event uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

It’s the first time that Wagner remembers holding the 36-hole lead at the celebrity event, even though he was the winner in 2006 and finished tied for second last year.

Romo, meanwhile, made up ground to finish with 46 points after seven birdies over the 6,865-yard Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Former winner Chris Chandler heads into Sunday’s final round with 42 points; actor Oliver Hudson has 41, and Vinny DelNegro, John Smotz and Jeremy Roenick have 40.

Romo has tried to qualify for the U.S. Open the last couple years. Wagner has made his mark on the golf course as a six-time club champ at Bel-Air Country Club (Calif.).

“I didn’t get the par 5s, but to get 1 under on a day when I was probably going a little sideways, I’m kind of happy with that,” said Wagner. “I got it in the house and I’m still in the lead… (My caddie) David Berganio (former U.S. Amateur Public Links champion) keeps saying, ‘Take it man. Let’s go! Put the petal to the metal, dude.’ But I’m an actor, I don’t know ‘petal to the metal.’”

Playing in the group in front of Wagner, Romo closed to within 3 points before Wagner birdied the final hole. And he feels good about his chances of catching Wagner.

“The way I’m hitting it, I think I can put up a number tomorrow,” said Romo, who will not accept any prize money in the $600,000 purse in order to retain his amateur status. “I hit the target a lot today, and I like my chances. Whenever I show up to play, I don’t show up to finish second or third.”

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Barkley Finds Someone He Can Beat at American Century Championship.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Golf instructor Hank Haney had his hands full on Saturday trying to help Charles Barkley and Jimmer Fredette at the same time during the second round of the American Century Championship. The two worst golfers in the celebrity field were paired together for their adventure at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, and Barkley was swinging at the ball with his eyes closed.

“I’m trying to trick myself,” admitted Barkley, who hit some wonderful tee shots with his eyes closed on the practice range before his round.

Barkley’s struggles with the game of golf have been well documented, and the pronounced hitch in his downswing is as imitated among recreational golfers as Tiger Woods’ fist pump. Barkley’s attempt to improve was the subject of Golf Channel’s “Hank Haney Project.”

Well, Haney may have another “project.” Barkley might just be better than Fredette, who struggled with his chip shots from 50 yards-and-in. Barkley has more trouble off the tee.

“It’s a dream come true to play with Charles,” said a smiling Fredette, the sharp-shooting BYU graduate who was recently acquired by the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. “I loved watching him play. He played so hard and had such determination.”

Fredette’s best hole on Saturday was a bogey on the par-3 12^th. He stopped his 5-iron approach 10 feet above the hole, but three-putted to tie Barkley, who one-putted after a chip from across the cart path and through a stand of pine trees.

“You don’t have no short game like mine, so don’t be trying any of those shots,” Barkley heckled Fredette after leaving himself a 5-footer for bogey.

Two holes later Barkley lined up, closed his eyes, and launched his tee ball 310 yards to the right rough, leaving him just 90 yards to the green. It was good enough for his second of three bogeys on his first nine holes.

“It takes a special athlete to hit a golf ball with his eyes closed,” Barkley joked to his new friend Jimmer.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Wagner Holds First-Day Lead at American Century Championship

Friday, July 15, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Actor Jack Wagner made seven birdies and scored 29 points Friday to hold a 5-point lead over Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chandler after the first round of the American Century Championship. The 54-hole celebrity event uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

Wagner, the 2006 winner who has played in all 21 previous Tahoe celebrity events, shot a 3-under-par 69 over 6,865-yard Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. But he didn’t want to get ahead of himself and think about better his second-place finish of a year ago.

“It’s only the first day,” said Wagner. “When you shoot under par, everything is going pretty good for you. And when you make a few putts early, it can really build your confidence for the whole day. I birdied the first two holes from 15 and 20 feet today.”

Roenick, a former NHL All-Star, had two birdies and an eagle on his final nine holes to help boost his total while Chandler, a retired NFL quarterback and the 2007 winner, was a quick starter like Wagner, with four birdies on his first nine holes.

“This is my favorite week of the year,” said the nine-time All-Star center Roenick after the round. “I worked hard to stay mentally strong today. I could have lost it a couple of times, but I hung in there. I grew today as a golfer and as a person. This is as hard as I can remember this course playing.”

Defending champion Billy Joe Tolliver had just 14 points, and pre-tournament favorite Tony Romo birdied two of his final three holes to finish with 19.

“I putted just terrible today,” said Romo, who was paired with Michael Jordan and John Elway. “But, hopefully I was able to get back into it with the last couple holes.”

Crowd favorite Charles Barkley and rookie Jimmer Fredette were among the low finishers with minus 30 points.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Holtz’s Final Rounds at the American Century Championship

Friday, July 15, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Lou Holtz let ESPN talk him into being a college football analyst for two more years, but the fit-looking 74-year-old was sure that this would be his last visit to the American Century Championship.

“There comes a time when you have to step aside,” said the affable retired coach before he headed to the first tee to begin play on Friday. “I can’t reach most of the fairways any more. But from 100 yards and in I’m still okay. They need to let us old guys move up so we can be competitive.”

Holtz’s game showed signs of a former brilliance, but from more than 6,800 yards at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, he was playing double-bogey golf most of the day. He once was an 8-handicapper, and as recently as 2005 he won the member-member tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Holtz shared the round with another College Football Hall-of-Famer, Steve Spurrier, the man who succeeded him in 2005 as head coach at the University of South Carolina, and Jack Del Rio, the current head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Between them, they have 67 years of head coaching experience. But the 48-year-old Del Rio was the baby of the group, with just eight years as a head coach at his current post.

“I’m just listening and taking in the wisdom,” the long-hitting and erratic Del Rio said at one point. The group alternated between talking football and listening to Holtz’s quick-witted one-liners.

After an up-and-down stretch of birdie, triple bogey and then a perfect 300-yard drive for Del Rio, Holtz quipped, “I don’t want to hear you getting on your players for being inconsistent.”

On another occasion, Holtz hit his second shot on a par-4 hole and said, “There, now I’m out there with your drives.”

After Sunday’s final round in the 54-hole event, Holtz will get ready for another college football season alongside his colleague Mark May and share his wisdom as “Doctor Lou.” And he may just have more insight into the upcoming season for South Carolina, which has the “Old Ball Coach” pretty excited.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

Tebow and Elway So Close and Yet So Far Apart

Thursday, July 14, 2011

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Tim Tebow has always done things his own way, but tackling the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course for the start of the American Century Championship without much practice and having never had a golf lesson might be more than even he can overcome.

“I get my money’s worth out of every swing,” said the Denver Bronco quarterback after taking a mighty rip at his drive from the 16^th tee. “I’m not an expert at this, and if I break 90 each day out here I’ll be happy.”

But while quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Billy Joe Tolliver and John Elway have perennially been among the favorites to win the 54-hole Stableford event that is in its 22^nd year, Tebow reluctantly has accepted his fate long before play begins.

“It’s hard to accept that I don’t have a chance before I get started,” said Tebow. “I’m competitive and I’ll try my hardest, but I don’t practice and I don’t take lessons. I really just enjoy going out and betting against my brother (Robby). Some day, I’ll find time to practice and get good at this game.”

But for the foreseeable future, Tebow is concentrating on his football career and winning a starting job as the Broncos quarterback. His boss, John Elway, the executive vice president of football operations for the Broncos, would expect nothing less of his 2010 first-round draft pick.

“I hope people don’t get the wrong impression seeing me here,” said the 23-year old Tebow who started three games in his rookie season. “I’m very proud of the work that I’ve put in during this off season and I’m looking for a chance to compete and handle our offense.”

Meanwhile, Elway has had the time to practice his golf game, and it shows. He finished in a four-way tie for second place last year. And he regularly is around par for 18 holes.

“I think I’m still getting better,” said the 51-year-old Hall-of-Famer who is one of four golfers who has played in every Tahoe celebrity golf championship. “I really enjoy this week. It’s chance to see everyone again and it gives me a chance to compete. We never seem to lose that.”

Elway also was looking forward to sharing pleasantries with his sophomore quarterback on this practice day, knowing that Tebow was playing three groups in front of his. But the two will not be allowed to talk business due to the ongoing player lockout.

“I sure don’t want to get on his bad side and I don’t think I’ll be in trouble if I just say ‘hey,’” said the former Heisman Trophy winner, not fully knowing the league-imposed rules during the lockout.

Elway chuckled at the craziness of the situation. “We can’t talk shop, but I’ll be able to say, ‘Hey, how are you? How’s the family?’”

The two will not be paired together during the three rounds of play in order to respect the league rules. But each hopes they will be together in Denver for football practices before the month is over.

Playing a round of golf together can wait.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

NBC Golf Executives Mix Business with Pleasure in Tahoe

Wednesday, July 13, 201

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Michael Jordan and Tony Romo had never met before the American Century Championship four years ago. It was golf that brought them together.

Now they were walking down the 11^th fairway during Wednesday’s practice round talking about golf equipment and what Jordan might try to get a bit more lift on his drives without losing distance.

If any celebrity out here might know, it’s Romo, a scratch amateur golfer and the Dallas Cowboys quarterback who finished his practice round at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course with a 2-under-par 70. The ever-competitive Jordan wasn’t far behind.

“He’s got youth on his side,” quipped Jordan on the third tee when the 31-year-old Romo launched his drive far down the fairway and had only a 5-iron into the 570-yard par 5.

And it was Romo, who teamed with NBC executive Jon Miller and announcer Mark Rolfing to win the friendly game among the five. Jordan and lead producer Tom Randolph dug into their pockets to settle the bet.

The friendly game has been a ritual among Jordan, Romo and the NBC group each year since 2007 at the American Century Championship, largely as a way to celebrate the success of the event which grew out of misfortune for the network more than 20 years ago.

“It was 1989. We had just lost major league baseball and (president) Dick Ebersol called me in his office,” recalled Miller, now president of programming for NBC Sports and the Versus network. ‘You’re the programming guy. We just lost baseball and you now have 26 weeks to fill. But you have no money to spend.”

The network was open to many new ventures in sports to fill the void. One of the ideas was a celebrity golf tournament.

“Let’s give it a shot,” Miller thought. “This event was the first and most successful of those ventures. But we knew we needed the biggest star of that time to make it go, and that was Michael.”

He said yes, and so a good friendship was born.

Randolph recalls the time he first asked Jordan what they were going to play for. “Anything that makes you nervous,” said the NBA great.

“I look forward to this. It’s one of the best weeks of the year,” said Jordan. And it’s always special when he gets to trade jabs with his buddy Rolfing.

“Michael could play 1000 rounds of golf, but there is nobody he likes taking money from more than me,” said Rolfing, who came alive on the closing holes Wednesday to win his individual wager with Jordan.

“He got away clear,” chuckled Jordan, who started off with birdies on two of the first three holes.

Romo, meanwhile, walked away from the day knowing he was prepared for the rest of the golf week before he turned his attention (hopefully) to another football season. Talks are continuing between team owners and players to end a player lockout.

“I like my chances,” said the three-time Pro Bowl selection.

So does Jordan.

By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.

It's Show Time!

The 22nd annual American Century Championship is underway. The event kicked off this year with the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Celeb Am tournament. Players and celebs were treated to picture perfect weather this morning for the 9 am shot gun. Former NFL All Pro QB's Jim McMahon and Mark Rypien along with former MLB Greats John Smoltz, Joe Carter and Goose Gossage were among the celebrities playing in todays tournament.

Super Bowl MVP QB, Aaron Rodgers, made his appearance this morning and signed a few autographs for fans. NBA Legend Michael Jordan just arrived and will be playing his practice round later this afternoon. The official tournament starts on Friday but the days leading up to this weekend are a great chance to get up close and personnel with your favorite celebs.