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Good friends Quinn, Wagner get first rounds in at Edgewood

Dan Thrift/Tahoe Daily Tribune Dan Quinn, four-time American Century Championship winner, lines it up while actor Jack Wagner putts Monday on Hole 6 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
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By Jeremy Evans

Tribune staff writer

STATELINE – Actor Jack Wagner and former NHL star Dan Quinn are two of the most successful golfers in the history of the celebrity golf tournament. So it wasn’t surprising to see the two men playing together Monday at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in preparation for Thursday’s first round of the American Century Championship.



“Everybody who leaves here on Sunday night looks forward to next year,” said Quinn, a four-time champion who’s favored to win again this week. “That’s the truth. No matter if you finish top-10 or dead last, everybody looks forward to it because they’re with guys they played with or worked with or played against.”

Quinn first won in 1992 and has won three of the past four titles. Wagner, meanwhile, has 12 top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish in 2003. But when the first tournament was held in 1990, the two were relative strangers.



“You know what’s great about this is that it’s the combination of competition and camaraderie,” Wagner said. “Danny and I met through this. All of the guys, from Michael Jordan to Charles Barkley to John Elway, we all know each other through golf. When you tee it up, everybody is competitive. But at the same time, there is a great camaraderie within the group of guys that play. A lot of friends have been made here.”

The Wagner-Quinn friendship has also extended to each other’s family. Quinn’s brother, Kevin, and Wagner’s brother, Dennis, both joined their siblings at Edgewood and have become close friends. Monday’s foursome, though, was arranged more than a month ago.

Jack Wagner called Dan Quinn six weeks ago and asked whether he’d like to play a few practice rounds at Edgewood. Quinn agreed and was especially eager to visit Tahoe last week when it appeared Hurricane Dennis was going to plaster the state of Florida with rain.

“So I am in Florida, with a hurricane coming, and I was anxious was to get out because I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play golf,” said Quinn, who lives in Jupiter, Fla. “Then the opportunity came when both our brothers could come and play. Since they both caddy, it’s a treat for them and a treat for us to be with them.”

Neither player knew exactly what they shot on Monday, but Wagner figured Quinn played better, probably carding a 69 (3-under). Quinn is listed as a 6-5 favorite by Harveys to win this week, slightly better than five-time champion Rick Rhoden (7-5). Wagner is listed as a 10-1 favorite.

But even though it’s the usual suspects expected to contend, Quinn said it’s still nice to be back at Edgewood.

“When our group of guys get together for a big tournament, it’s the same group of five or six guys you’re going to mention,” Quinn said. “But the same thing is going to happen on the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and the senior tour. This is the one everybody wants to be in and has wanted to be in since 1990. I’d come out here on a trip by myself if there wasn’t a tournament. Jack and I love the course and love coming out here.”


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