Korbel toasts American Century Championship with Closest to the Pin Contest, Celebrity Spray-Off events | TahoeDailyTribune.com
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Korbel toasts American Century Championship with Closest to the Pin Contest, Celebrity Spray-Off events

Staff report
Comedian Larry The Cable Guy admires his pop as champagne flows out of the bottle during the Celebrity Spray-Off at last year's American Century Championship.
Tahoe Daily Tribune File |

Korbel California Champagne has a celebratory reputation, and will do exactly that at the 27th annual American Century Championship, July 19-24 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. For the fifth year, Korbel will host a Closest to the Pin competition in addition to the favorite Celebrity Spray-Off, at which players show off their champagne-spraying skills.

During the tournament, Korbel will serve up honorary cocktails and breathtaking scenery from the Korbel Experience Tent on the grounds of the Edgewood Tahoe. The champagne company will also give fans and celebrities numerous opportunities to participate in the fun:

Celebrity Closest to the Pin Contest



This fifth annual competition gathers 15 of the tournament’s most notable players at Edgewood Tahoe’s iconic hole 17 for two chances to make a hole-in-one from 155 yards for $250,000 — half of the prize winnings will be donated to a local charity. The 2016 designee is Take Care, an informational campaign created by the Tahoe Fund to promote eco-consciousness and lake clarity in the Tahoe Basin.

If no hole-in-one is made but a player hits within two feet, $25,000 will be awarded, with half to the player and half to the charity. If no one is within two feet, Korbel will award a consolation prize of $5,000 to the local nonprofit.



This year’s contest takes place Friday, July 22 on hole No. 17 following the first round of the tournament — and promises to be a crowd-pleaser. Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson won last year’s contest, and Korbel Toast Life Foundation donated $5,000 to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

Celebrity Spray-Off

Celebrities and athletes playing in the golf tournament will show off their skills as they test their best celebratory champagne spray in order to win $5,000 for their charity of choice from Korbel Toast Life Foundation. Past winners include Joe Theismann, Shane Battier and Jerome Bettis.

Korbel will judge participants on champagne spray creativity and cork distance. The Spray-Off will take place throughout the day Thursday, July 21, between holes 17 and 18.

Celebrating Responsibly

In partnership with TEAM Coalition, Korbel is challenging ACC fans to sign a responsibility pledge that outlines ways in which to celebrate responsibly. On Thursday and Friday of tournament play, fans can sign a large oversized golf ball to show their support.


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