Former NHL Player Joe Pavelski Leads American Century Championship After Round One

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Joe Pavelski, a former National Hockey League standout, finished the opening round of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe with a leading score of 23 points, calculated under the modified Stableford system.

Reflecting on his play, Pavelski, who secured second place in the tournament last year behind ex-tennis pro Mardy Fish, commented, “The round felt good. Naturally, there was plenty of excitement and some nerves heading into the first round off the first tee.”

Vinny Del Negro, a former NBA player and coach who won the event in 2021, is currently one point behind Pavelski.

Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors star and the defending champion from 2023, trails by two points at 21, a score he shares with former professional soccer player Taylor Twellman.

Other notable scores include 19 points for Carolina Panthers receiver Adam Thielen. Three-time winner Tony Romo, the former NFL quarterback, sits at 18 points, tied with Oklahoma City Thunder player Alex Caruso. Mardy Fish, the champion in 2020 and 2023, is in a group at 17 points, alongside former MLB pitcher John Smoltz and golf legend Annika Sorenstam.

Charles Barkley, the outspoken basketball analyst, managed to hole out for an eagle from 88 yards on the par-4 second hole, contributing nine points to his first-round total. He is currently tied for 24th position in the field of 90 participants.

Barkley expressed his enjoyment of the day, stating, “I had a fantastic day. I had a blast playing with Nate Bargatze and Larry the Cable Guy; they`re two of the best guys out there. I`ve genuinely put in a significant amount of practice, and I was very pleased with how I performed today.”

Stephen Curry played his round alongside his father, Dell Curry, and his brother, Seth Curry.

Stephen Curry shared his thoughts on playing with family: “It was clearly a lot of fun playing with my dad and my brother, even the matching outfits and all that, getting the vibe right. Although I felt my play was just average, I managed to avoid any really bad scores, which is crucial for staying competitive. I`m looking forward to tomorrow.”