Sunday is your last chance to beat the Folsom heat and go hang with some of the best celebrity golfers in the world in the American Century Championship, hosted by Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Huge crowds and lots of fun interaction with the crowd have been the theme for the 90 celebrities competing for this year’s top prize, with Former San Jose Shark Joe Pavelski in the lead headed to Sunday’s final round.
Crowd favorites this year include Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry, San Francisco 49ers George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, former basketball player and current Inside The NBA analyst Charles Barkley.
Playing in his first ever ACC Championship, 49ers Tight End George Kittle has been one of the most engaging presences on the course, “What an honor just to be a part of it, Overall, the fan experience was just top notch. The anxiety was at an all-time high, but the positive reinforcement from all the 49ers fans helped calm me down.
Folsom Times photos by Bryan Greenwalt
Part of the draw at the tournament is the ability to talk with the celebrities between shots, get pictures of the competitors and just possibly land that Autographed jersey or hat. But for some it’s just about getting that fist bump. Joe and Jack Greco, teens attending their first golf tournament said they were most excited to see their favorite UFC fighter Justin Gaethje and favorite player George Kittle.
They waited near the putting green and locker room entrance for an hour and a half and finally hit the jackpot when they got a quick fist bump from Kittle as he left to head to the locker room. “We’re definitely doing this again next year, all the crowds and fans and we were the only ones that got a fist bump.
Despite the hot temperatures and a little smoke in the air in the valley, it’s been around 85 degrees in beautiful Lake Tahoe and Sunday will be much of the same with great weather and a spectacular backdrop.
Stephen Curry commented, “The nature out here, being outside being around this kind of energy is special, golf does that, it brings so many different people together and parents are giving their kids that experience outside the rope. That’s what it’s all about”
Friday and Saturday’s first two rounds were sold out prior to the start disappointing many who wanted to attend but didn’t get tickets in time. However, tickets are available for Sunday’s final round at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-american-century-celebrity-golf-tournament-at-edgewood-tahoe-tickets-1055210806929. Prices are $50 and kids 10 and under are free with a paying adult.
Notes from Day 2: Pavelski, Twellman lead field; Rollins wins new Mastercraft Boat with first-ever Hole in One
Joe Pavelski finished with three straight birdies to share the lead with former soccer star Taylor Twellman at 44 points after the second round of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on Saturday. Sunday’s final round will start with only nine points separating 10 players, including Steph Curry, Annika Sorenstam, Tony Romo and John Smoltz.
Country music star Jake Owen was alone in third with 41 points, followed by Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (40) and former LPGA great Sorenstam (37). Two three-time winners here, ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Romo and former major league pitcher Mark Mulder, were at 36 points, along with TV analyst Smoltz. Curry, the 2023 champion, and Mardy Fish, the defending champion, rounded out the top 10, tied with 35 points.
Saturday’s highlight belonged to former major league infielder Jimmy Rollins, who won a $325,000 Mastercraft boat when he scored a hole-in-one on the 154-yard par-3 12th. The 50-degree wedge ace got Rollins 8 points, and he is tied for 45th with 3 points for the tournament.
“I’ve been close a number of times,” said Rollins, who played 15 of his 17-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies. “I didn’t anticipate it going in. I just figure it’s going to cross over the front of the hole and I’d go tap in for a birdie. It goes in and I look at (playing partner Davante Adams), he’s sky high, and I’m, like, I don’t know what to do.”
Pavelski, the recently retired NHL player, was the solo leader after Friday’s opening round.
“It was kind of you’re looking up, not really happy with your game and the points you’re putting up, trying to find a way to get this into the 40s and stay connected,” said Pavelski, who has three straight top-three showings. “Obviously Twellman has been playing great. To finish birdie, birdie, birdie and be tied with him, I’ll take that all day.”
Twellman, whose uncle is former PGA Tour player Jay Delsing, credited good camaraderie with his playing partners, Thielen and Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso. “I think the energy in our group was good,” said Twellman, who birdied four holes in a six-hole stretch. “Alex, Adam and I were kind of feeding off each other. We were talkative. It felt like a normal round of golf on a weekend for us.”
The surprise performance came from Owen, an outstanding junior who finished eighth in the tournament last year.
The event, which has a $750,000 purse, uses a modified Stableford scoring system that rewards points for eagles (6), birdies (3) and pars (1). Bogeys are 0 points and a double-bogey or worse is minus-2.
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