Dan Quinn Storms Back In Final Round To Win His Fifth American Century Championship

Stateline, Nev. – Dan Quinn birdied three of his first seven holes Sunday to pull ahead and then stretched his lead on the back nine to earn a six-point victory over former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien in the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Quinn finished with 66 points. Rypien was second with 60 points and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway finished third with 59 points. It was the fourth win at the event for Quinn, a former NHL star who will caddie for Ernie Els at next week’s Canadian Open. Els won the British Open earlier in the day.

Quinn, who collected $125,000 from a total purse of $600,000, started the day three points behind second-round leader Rypien, who had 43 points after 54 holes. The event uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

Billy Joe Tolliver finished fourth with 58 points; Romo was fifth with 56 points, and Joe Theismann was sixth with 53 points. Former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder, who shared the first-round lead with defending champion Jack Wagner, finished in seventh place with 52 points. Wagner slipped to eighth place with 51 points.

At the half-way point, Quinn held a 52-50 lead over Rypien. The former hockey player birdied the par-4 11^th to move in front by four points over Rypien and five points over Romo with three good scoring holes remaining; especially the par-5 16^th and 18^th.

Quinn then made a 25-footer for birdie on 16 to close the door on his challengers.

“My thought was just to get that putt to the hole,” said Quinn. “When I made it I thought, ‘Unless I did something crazy I looked pretty solid.’”

Romo failed to birdie the 16^th and then took a double bogey on the final hole to lose two points.

“I just need to compete more,” said Romo, who heads to training camp next week. “I don’t play enough to compete in a three or four-day event. Golf is a tough game.”

 “I’m lucky to be in the position I am in,” said Quinn after Saturday’s second round. “I think it will be decided on the last three holes and that’s exactly what NBC wants.”

He was wrong. Quinn salted the win away long before that.

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

Can Quinn Follow Els By Winning On Sunday At The American Century Championship? Quinn Will Caddie For Els Next Week

Stateline, Nev. – As Dan Quinn was just about to begin his final round at the American Century Championship at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course Sunday, he learned that his friend Erine Els had won the British Open, holding off Adam Scott with a finishing score of 7 under par.

Els had come from six strokes behind two claim his second British Open and fourth major championship. He birdied four holes on his last nine and watched as Scott collapsed four bogeys on his last four holes.

“Last year, there was no way, but this year I started believing a little more,” Els told reporter Tom Rinaldi on camera. “I feel very fortunate.”

Quinn, a former NHL star who will caddie for Els next week at the Canadian Open, was hoping for the same come-from behind victory at the American Century Championship. He started the final round three points behind leader Mark Rypien, a former NFL quarterback.

The event uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

Perhaps buoyed by the good news about his professional golfer friend, Quinn made three birdies on the first nine and held the lead by two over Mark Rypien with 53 points at his half-way point.

He parred the tenth and then visited with NBC announcer Dottie Pepper. He said he saw Els finish but had to head for the first tee before seeing Scott make bogey on the last hole.

“Absolutely, I believed he would win again,” said Quinn. “We (Ricki Roberts, Els’ other part-time caddie) believe in him. We know how great he is. He just had to start believing in himself again.”

Now Quinn has to believe in himself down the stretch and pocket the $125,000 for first place.

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

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Interviewed In Tahoe For A 60 Minutes Feature This Fall

Stateline, Nev. – Aaron Rodgers was greeted by a CBS film crew and interviewer Scott Pelley following his round at the American Century Championship Saturday. The network is planning an in-depth interview with the star quarterback for the popular 60 Minutes news program this fall.

They will add a lengthy interview at a local high school before leaving the Tahoe area and they will visit Green Bay within the next few weeks.

“We usually do two or three big sports celebrities a year,” said Pelley, CBS Evening News managing editor, who is equally comfortable talking sports or world news. “Aaron’s story is just fascinating to us, because this is the guy that nobody wanted. He couldn’t get into a Division I football program. Then he goes late in the NFL draft at 24^th. Then he has to play under Favre for three years.

“Now he’s become one of the greatest players of all time, and by many measures, he’s the best passer of all time. That’s got to be a story for 60 Minutes.”

The show will air in the middle of the football season, probably in October or November when the network has a great football doubleheader Sunday as a lead-in.

“For a guy who has done so much so quickly, he’s a fairly humble guy,” said Pelley. “He talks about the team and how it’s really not about him. He’s a terrific leader. But part about being a great leader is to not make it all about you.”

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

Mark Rypien Finishes Strong to Hold Second-Round Lead With 43 Points At American Century Championship

Stateline, Nev. – Former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien had two birdies and an eagle on the last four holes Saturday to score 27 points in his second round and take the 36-hole lead at the American Century Championship by three points over Dan Quinn and by five over first-round leader Mark Mulder.  Rypien, who shot the equivalent of a 1-under-par 71 for his round, hasn’t finished higher than third since winning the inaugural Tahoe event in 1990.

“I’ve been chasing it for 22 years,” said Rypien, “I don’t know what the heck the lead looks like. I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I hit the big 5-0 this October, so it’s nice to be competitive and back with a chance to win.”

Rypien has played 21 of the 23 tournaments at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. He was third in 2004 and 10^th a year ago.

The event uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better. The event continues with the final round Sunday, with television coverage by NBC from 3-6 p.m. (EDT).

Rypien started his late scoring-run of 12 points in the last four holes with a 30-footer for birdie on the 15^th. He hit a 2-hybrid from 265 yards to 4-foot and made the putt for eagle and 6 points  at the 546-yard par-5 16^th and followed that with a 2-putt birdie on the finishing par 5 of 501 yards.

“I turned two points into 16 points yesterday and that’s partly why I’m in the good position I’m in today. I hit it all over the place yesterday,” said Rypien. “It was kind of a Houdini act that got me where I am right now.”

Quinn had a second consecutive round of 20 points while first-round leader Mulder slipped to just 16 points Saturday. Defending champion Jack Wagner has 36 points after the two rounds, six points behind the leader.

“I’m lucky to be in the position I am in said Quinn, a former NHL player who will leave Sunday night to caddie for Ernie Els in next week’s Canadian Open. “I think it will be decided on the last three holes and that’s exactly what NBC wants.”

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

Joe Sakic To Become Pro Hockey Hall-of-Famer in November

Stateline, Nev. – After being a 13-time all-star and one of the best scoring forwards in the history of the National Hockey League, Joe Sakic will receive a final recognition of his brilliant career this November, when he is inducted into the pro hockey Hall of Fame.

Sakic reflected on the upcoming honor Saturday as he was early in his second round at the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

“You don’t really know what being in the Hall of Fame is going to mean to you, but when you get the call it hits home,” said the lefty golfer who sports a 2 handicap. “You are just so appreciative of all the people who helped you in your youth. It gives you a chance to reflect on your accomplishments. When I was a kid, I just wanted to play in the NHL.

“Twenty-five years later to be in the Hall of Fame and be among the best of the best; it’s a tremendous honor.”

“He was one of the best,” added Brett Hull, a Hall-of-Famer himself. “He could do it all.”

Sakic won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche. Today, he is an executive for the team that he captained for 17 consecutive seasons.

Sakic had 14 points after the first round, but made an early run to move up the leaderboard with birdies in two of his first three holes. The 54-hole tournament uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

He curled in a downhill 35-footer for birdie on the par-4 second hole and then hit an approach shot snuggly to eight feet on the par-5 third hole and made the putt. All of a sudden he had six quick points and was one point out of the lead.

“I never even started playing golf until after I got drafted (1988)” said Sakic, “The veterans all said, ‘if you’re going to play hockey, you have to play golf.’ So, I had to get a set of clubs.”

Fourteen years later at the 2011 American Century Challenge, Sakic won $1 million by making a hole-in-one at the par-3 17^th hole.

The 43-year-old is a caring individual who runs a food bank in the Denver area. And he is touched by this week’s shootings and deaths in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

“You hate to see something like that,” said Sakic with emotion in his voice. “You don’t even know what to think. Why do things like that happen? You feel so bad. Your thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this.”

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

Quarterback Alex Smith Reunites With His College Coach at the American Century Championship

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – They hadn’t seen each other for almost three years and they hadn’t played a round of golf together since 2004. But quarterback Alex Smith and his former coach at Utah, Urban Meyer, were already looking for a competitive edge on the practice range before Friday’s first round at the American Century Championship, where they were paired together.

“I played with Alex one time at Utah, and I beat him,” said Meyer, who shortly will begin his first year as head coach at Ohio State.

“Yeah, he remembers beating me but I don’t remember that,” said Smith.

Then Meyer began to backtrack shortly after Smith bombed his first drive nearly 375 yards, which was 120 yards past Meyers’ effort.

“Alex has gotten stronger since then,” quipped Meyer as he walked from the tee box. “The last time I played him he was 190 pounds.”

The two were joined by Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk, who shared a connection in that he is an Ohio State graduate.

Smith scored the first points in the group when he parred the second hole to earn a point in the 54-hole tournament that uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better. He also scored a point for his par on the third hole.

Then, Meyer found his stride and hit a bunch of fairways. He also displayed a nice tough from 100 yards and in.

“How often have you been playing,” Smith asked playfully, when Meyer pitched to 20 feet on the sixth hole. The two each made pars on the par-3 seventh hole, in what was a typical style for each of them. Smith pitched from the trees and made a 10-footer while Meyer two-putted from 35 feet.

In between shots, they made up for lost time with questions about each other’s family and memories of their college days together.

“He was a skinny 170-pound kid who stood about 6’4”, but he was as competitive as anyone I’ve ever seen. He didn’t want to lose at anything,” remembered Meyer.

“I was so pleased that he finally got some stability in his pro career,” Meyer continued. “When I started to hear that Alex Smith can’t play in the NFL, I thought to myself, ‘then I’ll never coach a quarterback who will play in the NFL, because he was the best as far as mechanics and making decisions.’”

Smith, who plays golf about 12 times a year, still showed the competitive fire that he first learned from Meyer when he first took over as head coach at Utah.

“When he first got there, it was tough,” said Smith, who played for Meyer in the 2003-04 college football seasons, where they led the Utes to a 22-2 record and back-to-back Mountain West Conference championships. “You had to prove yourself to him. It was demanding. It was eye-opening for me.”

After the 2004 season, Meyer left to become head coach at Florida and Smith was drafted No. 1 by the San Francisco 49ers.

“He taught me that the most committed team in the end is going to win,” said Smith. “The ball is going to bounce funny ways, but over the course of time, the most invested team comes out on top. With coach Meyer, we were the most invested team, and it makes it tough to lose when you fight for everything

“I think everyone who goes to Utah has a chip on his shoulder because he didn’t get recruited by a BCS school. We all went out with something to prove and played like it.”

Smith and Meyer were still trying to prove something to each other on Friday. But this time it was on the golf course, before they turned their attention to getting back to business next week. Meyer was holding meetings for his staff on Monday. Smith was reporting to the 49ers on Thursday.

But, for this golf round Meyer enjoyed the upper hand. And Meyer claimed that it was the second time he beat Smith on the golf course, something Smith still contested.  But they agreed that it wouldn’t be another eight years before they again spent time together on a golf course.

The event continues over the weekend and it will be televised by NBC on Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. (ET).

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

Defending Champion Wagner And Mulder Share First Round Lead At American Century Championship

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Actor Jack Wagner, the defending champion, and former major league pitcher Mark Mulder each scored 22 points Friday to share the lead after the first round of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. The duo led by one point over NFL placekicker Ryan Longwell and by two over hockey Hall-of-Famer Brett Hull and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

 

Romo, the betting favorite, birdied the final hole to climb within striking distance.

“There are certain putts that you need to make to keep yourself in position,” said Romo of his last putt. “Even when you’re not putting well, I had to have that one. It was important. I hit the ball fine, it was just some chips and some putts. If I clean that up, I’ll have about 10 extra points.”

The tournament uses a Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better. The event continues on Saturday and Sunday, with television coverage be televised by NBC from 3-6 p.m. (EDT).

“I think I had 40 putts. Normally, that’s the strength of my game,” said Wagner, who is one of four players who have played in all 22 past Tahoe events. “I hit it really well. I didn’t make any putts”.

However, Wagner made enough putts to have three birdies on the day to offset his two bogeys. Mulder, meanwhile, used his length to help him make four birdies to go with four bogeys. Mulder has played in two previous tournaments with a best of 14^th in 2010.

“I was killing my drives and had mid-irons into the par 5s, but this is not what I do for a living so I’m not that confident in my game,” said Mulder, who pitched nine seasons in the big leagues with a career record of 130-60. “I’m trying to enjoy myself and not put so much pressure on myself this year. I came into this week hitting the ball well.”

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