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AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP | Hull shoots, scores seventh career hole-in-one

Steve Yingling, Tribune sports editor
Steve Yingling / Tahoe Daily TribuneFormer Major League Baseball player Vince Coleman laments after his putt didn't drop on the 18th hole during an American Century Championship practice round on Tuesday.
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STATELINE – Practice rounds for the American Century Championship have been known to produce some high drama and unusual feats.

Brett Hull, the NHL’s third all-time leading goal scorer, delivered one of those moments on Tuesday at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. After completing his Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur round on No. 15, Hull decided to play the remaining three holes a second time.

It proved to be worth his time.



On the 177-yard, par-3 17th hole, Hull’s 8-iron shot landed 3 inches in front of the cup, then jumped in the hole for an ace.

It was Hull’s seventh career hole-in-one, according to Phil Weidinger of Weidinger Public Relations.



“One of the guys (in his playing group) said, ‘Because it was his seventh ace, we were a (heck) of a lot more excited than he was,” Weidinger said.

The only question following Hull’s ace was whether it counted as an official hole-in-one since it wasn’t part of a complete round.

Four-time ACC winner Dan Quinn was the last celebrity to score an ace during a practice round.

Marshall Faulk, formerly of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts, knocked in a hole-in-one last year during the actual tournament. It happened on the same 17th hole with a 9-iron.

Carters continue brother rivalry on the golf course

Joe Carter was one of the first celebrities to arrive on Monday, and the former major league slugger made it clear he wasn’t going to make the same mistakes that he made as a rookie.

“I had a lot of fun,” said Carter, who tied for 43rd in a field of 90 players. “The thing is I kind of wore myself out, so this year I’m going to take it easy.

“Last year, I practiced two or three times a day, then played, and by Sunday I was dead. This year, not too much exertion, get my rest and drink plenty of water, and I’ll be ready for that Sunday finale.”

As Carter, best known for hitting a walk-off homer off Phillies’ closer Mitch Williams to win the 1993 World Series for Toronto, waited to tee off late Monday afternoon, a sibling rivalry spilled over onto the putting green. Carter and younger brother, Fred, continued their budding golfing fellowship over 15 or 16 putting holes before the first-tee starter broke up the fun.

“He’s my big golfing buddy, so we have a good time,” Carter said.

“This is an awesome experience,” said Fred Carter, who will caddie for his older brother this week. “He could have been a bad brother, but he’s a pretty good brother bringing me out here.

“We grew up close in the family, and it means a lot to me.”

As they made their way over to the first tee, somehow the conversation turned to who won the last match between the two.

“I won the last match,” Joe announced. “He had me down three with four holes to go, then he popped off and said, ‘I only have to tie on one more hole,’ and I beat him the next four holes.”

Fred, a former minor league player with the Reno Silver Sox, quickly turned the conversation in his favor.

“Ask him what happened at my place in Oklahoma City?” Fred said.

“I can’t remember back that far,” Joe responded. “When you get past 50, you forget about those things.”

Faulk’s team wins celebrity-amateur title

Speaking of Faulk, the seven-time Pro Bowl running back led his team of amateurs to the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Am title on Tuesday morning.

The winning team ran away from the other 10 entrants, compiling a score of 78 in the one net best shamble stableford format.

Faulk’s team also included Sean Stevens, Eric Abowd, Mehdi Vazeen and Jose Aguirre. They received a $500 Taylor Made certificate for placing first.

Finishing second at 62 were former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann and teammates Bill Hulburd, Roberta Waterman and Mike McColgan. Third place went to two-time ACC winner Billy Joe Tolliver and Norm Pytel, Taylor Wondries, Frank Antonovich and Barry Phillips at 61. They won a tiebreaker over John Smoltz’s team.

Wright, Boller added to championship field

The 80-player American Century Championship field has been tweaked following the withdrawals of stars.

Joining the Friday through Sunday championship are former boxing world champion Winky Wright, Rascal Flatts’ lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney, Raiders ‘ quarterback and former California signal-caller Kyle Boller and 2010 Olympic four-man bobsled gold medalist Steve Holcomb.

Recent departures from the tournament include 1998 champion Mario Lemieux, pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Matt Cassel, new Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly and actor Kevin Nealon.


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