2005 Commentary

Quarterbacks Rule the Final Round

The NFL Quarterbacks, both former and active, really left their mark on this year's American Century Celebrity Championship. Claiming 4 out of the top 5 spots shows what tremendous athletes these grid-iron orchestrators really are. Former QB Billy Joe Tolliver takes home first prize and the $100,000 check by playing 3 days of solid golf even the PGA Tour would be proud of. With drives over 350 yards regularly, Billy Joe was able to hit pitching wedge into most of the greens, making scoring points in the stableford system seem easy. Rounds of 69, 69, 73 included a dozen birdies and two eagles giving him the highest point total ever on the Celebrity Tour.

With his best finish ever in this tournament, Cleveland Browns QB Trent Dilfer, slides into second place just ahead of 6 time Celebrity Champion Rick Rhoden. Dilfer posted the best round and highest point total today while playing in the group just ahead of Tolliver and Rhoden. Finishing 4th and 5th are former QB's Chris Chandler and Mark Rypien. Chandler started the day in the final group but just couldn't put it all together on Sunday.

Former All-Pro QB Dan Marino played a great round of golf scoring 22 points to move himself into 9th place, while Pittsburgh Steelers QB Tommy Maddox holds on to 10th. The 16th annual Celebrity Golf Championship will definitely be remembered as the year of the QB's.

Saturday Wrap Up

“Moving day” and the second round of the 16^th annual Celebrity Golf Championship is in the books. As usual, the outright lead was decided with a putt on the 18^th green -- and what a putt it was. Former NFL Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver sank a 25-footer for an eagle 3 to take the outright lead over playing partner Rick Rhoden. Rhoden could have tied it up with a birdie on 18, but just missed and had to settle for a very rare par. Billy Joe’s round of 69 included two eagles, two birdies and a double bogie on the par 3 12^th hole. There was one other eagle posted today by former All-Pro Quarterback Chris Chandler. Chandler drained a 10-footer to move him into the final group with Tolliver and Rhoden. Maybe the ex Quarterbacks are teaming up to try and break Rhoden’s Sunday rally.

The biggest move of the day belonged to Hockey great Pierre Larouche who posted a solid round of 69 and 27 points. Larouche made 6 birdies to put himself into striking distance of the leaders. Also on the move today was defending Celebrity Champion Dan Quinn. Quinn’s respectable round of 71 and 23 points at least gets him onto the first page of the leader board and into the third to last group on Sunday. Quinn is still 15 points behind the leader making it almost impossible to defend his title.

The final two groups on Sunday consist of all NFL players with Rick Rhoden being the only non-football alumni. With Rhoden’s final round record at this event, it just might take a full on blitz to keep Rick from taking home his 7^th Celebrity Championship title.

Saturday - At the turn

It’s moving day at the 16^th Annual American Century Celebrity Championship and already things are starting to really heat up. Former Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver is setting a blistering pace posting one birdie and an eagle in his first four holes. Tolliver’s 11 points this morning gives Billy Joe a 3 point lead over first round leader Rick Rhoden. Rhoden is still playing solid golf with one birdie of his own and 3 straight pars.

Another former All–Pro Quarterback is our biggest mover of the day. Steve Bartkowski fired a front nine 3 under par 33 with 4 birdies launching him into 5^th place overall this morning. The NFL players occupy all top 10 spots with the exception of MLB’s best golfer, Rick Rhoden. The last football player to win this tournament was Billy Joe Tolliver way back in 1996.

First Round Wrap Up

The first round of the American Century Celebrity Classic is official on the books, and to no one’s surprise, former Major League Pitcher Rick Rhoden is sitting on top. The 6-time Celebrity Champion fired a 5 under par round of 67 posting 7 birdies to score 30 points in this modified Stableford system. Rhoden birdied the 18^th hole to give him a 2-point lead over former Quarterbacks Mark Rypien and Billy Joe Tolliver. Rypien’s solid round of 68 earlier in the day kept him in the lead for most of the day. Tolliver was on track to be the clubhouse leader, but finished the day with back to back bogies.

Former Hockey great Grant Fuhr leads the NHL race by posting a great round of 69 scoring 25 points. Fuhr fired a 3 under par 33 on the back nine to complete his round. Also scoring 25 points today were Cleveland Browns Quarterback Trent Dilfer and former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Chris Chandler. Both QB’s shot under par rounds to keep them within striking distance of the leaders.

Defending Champion and 4 time winner of this event, Dan Quinn, stumbled out of the gate posting a 3 over par round of 75 leaving him 14 points behind his normal Sunday playing partner Rhoden. I wouldn’t be surprised if Quinn fired a record round to get himself back into contention.

-- Geoff Burke, TahoeCelebrityGolf.com Sports Editor

And They're Off!

The first round of the 16^th annual American Century  Celebrity Golf Championship is well under way. It looks like the Quarterbacks are setting the pace while the rest of the field tries to play catch up. Former Redskins All-Pro QB, Mark Rypien, is off to a stellar start. The 1990 winner of this event fired a 3 under par 33 on his front nine and doesn’t have a single bogie on his card so far.

Rounding out the Quarterback connection is Cleveland Browns Quarterback, Trent Dilfer. Dilfers solid play is highlighted with 4 birdies so far. Dilfer and Rypien are playing leapfrog with the lead and are at least 6 points ahead of the rest of the field.

Former All-Pro Quarterback, Chris Chandler, is holding his own with a respectable even par round so far. One point behind Chandler sits former QB and ESPN analyst, Joe Theisman. The usual suspects, Rhoden, Tolliver and Quinn are still within striking distance.

-- Geoff Burke, TahoeCelebrityGolf.com Sports Editor