Buckeye Greats and Other Celebrities Play in Safelite AutoGlass Celebrity Pro-Am on Scarlet Course – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio — To kick off the Nationwide Tour’s event at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational hosted the Safelife AutoGlass Celebrity Pro-Am Monday. Over 25 local and nationally renowned sports and entertainment celebrities teamed up with two amateurs and one Nationwide Tour professional for a round of golf in the afternoon.
Former Buckeye greats packed the field, including Archie Griffin, Steve Bellisari, Keith Byars, John Cooper, John Hicks, Craig Krenzel, Jeff Logan, Tom Skladany, Chris Spielman and Jeff Uhlenhake of the football team and Ohio State basketball stars Clark Kellogg, Ron Stokes and Troy Taylor.
“It’s always nice to come back to Ohio State,” Byars said. “I didn’t play golf in college which is probably a good thing since I would have been trying to cut class to come over here and play this golf course.
“I live in Florida so this was a great opportunity to come back to Ohio State and support this event; it is like the saying once a Buckeye always a Buckeye.’ It’s fun to play with the professional golfers because this is their sport so we see how the game is supposed to be played. And to do it at a great golf course like this is just an added bonus.”
“Everyone keeps thanking me for coming out to the event when really it is just great for us to be out here,” Spielman said. “This event is great for the golf course. The Nationwide Tour gives Ohio State the chance to showcase one of the top courses. The fact that Jack Nicklaus has his signature on it adds to the reputation.”
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational, held July 24-27, features a Charity Ticket Program this year, in which 100 percent of all general admission ticket revenue will be returned to charity. More than 30 local organizations are participating and fans purchasing tickets online or at the gate will be able to select which charity they want to direct their contribution. Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research is the primary beneficiary of the invitational and received over $480,000 from the inaugural event last year.
Along with the Buckeyes, NASCAR’s Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett and ESPN motorsports reporter Jamie Little played in the event as well as Blue Jackets Jarod Boll, Mike Commodore, general manager Scott Howson and former Major League Baseball standouts and Ohio natives David Mlicki and Paul O’Neill.
While the celebrity field was impressive, there was special meaning for the returning Buckeyes to come back to their alma mater and represent Ohio State in such a high-profile event.
“Anytime you have the chance to put the university on the national stage it is a good thing and I think the course will represent itself well,” Byars said. “I talked to a few of the pros over at the driving range and they like the lay of this golf course so that bodes well for Ohio State.”
“It’s neat to be a part of this event the second year in which the Nationwide Tour is hosting it at Ohio State,” Kellogg said. “I actually came out to watch the event with my 16 year-old son last year. The tour is a lot better than people realize and hopefully this will be a part of exposing the great golf course Scarlet is and the great golfing community Columbus is.”
