GUERNEVILLE, CA (July 17, 2024) – In its 20th consecutive year sponsoring the American Century Championship, golf’s pre-eminent celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Korbel California Champagne®️ had spectators bubbling with excitement at every hole! Korbel brought back the spirited Long Drive Competition as well as always popular Closest-to-the Pin Contest with a chance to win $250,000 for charity. Fans who flocked to Tahoe to cheer on their favorite celebrities were rewarded with sparkling success, including back-to-back Long Drive wins for a prominent pair of brothers and a stunning three-peat at Closest-to-the Pin.
“From Jason defending the Kelce Family Long Drive title, to Derek Lowe’s third win at Closest-to-the-Pin, the crowd was overflowing with excitement at every swing,” said Margie Healy, Vice President, Communications for Korbel. “In our twenty years at Tahoe, this was the best American Century Celebrity Championship yet and I couldn’t imagine a better back drop to debut our new packaging, branding, and creative campaign.”
Korbel Long Drive Competition:
In his first appearance at the celebrity golf tournament, Jason Kelce – former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center – secured the top spot in the Korbel Long Drive Competition. His drive traveled 322 yards and makes for back-to-back wins for the Kelce brothers; with Travis Kelce winning the Korbel Long Drive Competition in 2023 with a drive of 362 yards. Held on Hole 16 with a scenic 546-yard par 5, Korbel enlisted Drew Stoltz and Colt Knost from Golf’s Subpar podcast on Golf.com as MCs. Both former professional golfers, the lively banter was in full swing, keeping players and fans wildly entertained while the music beat on, and the bubbles flowed. A total of 44 players competed with Jason Kelce taking home the bragging rights over fellow competitors such as Seth Curry, Miles Teller, Bobby Flay, Aaron Rodgers, and Charles Barkley (to name just a few) as well as $5,000 to his charity of choice (yet to be announced) courtesy of Korbel.
Joe Flacco, NFL Quarterback, took home second place with a long drive of 320 yards and MLB’s Alex Rodriguez, formerly of the New York Yankees, placed third with 315 yards. Trailing not too far behind, other players making the top ten leaderboard were Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills (314 yards), AJ Hawk – American sports analyst and former football linebacker (311 yards), Matthew Tkachuk of the NHL’s Florida Panthers (306 yards), and Adam Thielen of the Carolina Panthers (305 yards).
Closest-To-The-Pin Contest:
The Closest-To-The-Pin competition is a popular highlight of American Century Championship Week. Using the famous 17th hole as a backdrop, celebrities tee up two shots each to see who can get closest to dropping one in the cup on this scenic par 3. This year’s competition brought together eleven players and one Korbel distributor representative, all vying for the winning title to benefit charity – with $250,000 on the line. The Rules: A hole-In-one is the name of the game. If not achieved, the player closest-to-the-pin (within two feet) will receive a $25,000 split with the charity. If a hole-in-one is not made and no player gets within two feet, the closest-to-the-pin shot will win $5,000 for charity. Derek Lowe, former professional baseball pitcher, is more than familiar with these rules, as it was his third time taking home Closest-to-the-Pin at the 17th Hole – the 135-yard lakefront par 3 party hole set against the iconic lake front backdrop filled with boats and fans. Korbel will cut a check on behalf of Lowe’s win to Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs for adults, children, facility dogs and service dogs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for United States Armed Forces veterans.
About the American Century Championship:
The 34th annual American Century Championship, a made-for-TV event, owned and broadcasted by NBC Sports, and televised on NBC and the GOLF Channel, is the sport’s premier celebrity golf tournament. It has raised more than $6 million for local and national charities. The competition features a purse of $600,000, with $125,000 to the winner. The 54-hole tournament utilizes the modified Stableford scoring format awarding points per hole based on score. The field includes more than 80 sports and entertainment superstars including Stephen Curry, Canelo, Patrick Mahomes, Jake Owen, Aaron Rodgers, and Josh Allen.
About Korbel California Champagne®:
Established in 1882 in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Korbel Champagne Cellars produces the United States’ most popular méthode champenoise champagne. The true measure of Korbel’s success during its 142 years can be seen in the impact it has had on American consumers and its presence at various celebrations throughout the years. Owned and managed by the Heck family since 1954, Korbel currently makes eleven California champagnes and a limited amount of still wine. In a separate facility, Korbel also produces one of the country’s most respected brandies.
