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AmFam Field grows with International champions

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Alex Cejka, Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik, winners of PGA TOUR Champions titles and tournaments across the globe, are coming to Madison for the 2021 American Family Insurance Championship in June.

The championship is also adding a fourth hometown player, as Mario Tiziani will make his debut on PGA TOUR Champions under an invitational sponsor’s exemption.  Tiziani, two-time winner on the Canadian Tour, joins his brother-in-law and tournament player-host Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly and Andy North.

Alex Cejka has already claimed a major title, winning the Regions Tradition in a playoff with Stricker after getting into the field as an alternate. [Read more…]

North to tee it up at American Family Insurance Championship (AUDIO)

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After cancelling last year’s event because of the pandemic, the popular American Family Insurance Championship is returning to University Ridge Golf Course June 11-13.

This year, the AMFAM Championship has been upgraded to an invitational format, and the 81-player field for the PGA Tour Champions event will include Wisconsin native and 2-time U.S. Open champion Andy North, who’s served as a  tournament ambassador since the AMFAM’s inception in 2016.

The 71-year-old North has played only 19 PGA Tour Champions tournaments the last 10 years.  His last event was the 2019 Bass Pro Legends of Golf.

This year’s purse will total $2.4 million, the largest among non-major events on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. [Read more…]

American Family Insurance Championship to return this summer

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University Ridge Golf Course

The American Family Insurance Championship is back in 2021 with plans to allow up to 5,000 attendees each day at University Ridge Golf Course.

The PGA Tour Champions event is scheduled for the week of June 5-13 with the three-day event to be held June 11-13.

The 5,000 daily attendees includes players, caddies, spectators, tournament staff and volunteers.  Face coverings will be required for all spectators, staff and volunteers unless actively eating or drinking.  Public bleacher seating will not be available.

The fan-favorite celebrity foursome, which has helped attract Saturday crowds of up to 25,000, will not be held this year but will return in 2022.

The American Family Insurance Championship has raised $10.2 million for American Family Children’s Hospital and more than 400 non-profits since its debut in 2016.

Tickets for the event will go on sale May 11.  Information on ticket availability can be obtained online at amfamchampionship.com under the “Get Tickets” link.

 

Another record year for American Family Insurance Championship

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Jack Salzwedel – Steve Stricker – Nicki Stricker

The 2019 American Family Insurance Championship raised a record $2.4 million for charity.  In its fourth year, the 2019 event raised a record $2,404,000, an increase of $337,000 (21 percent) over 2018.

It brings the total amount raised for charity since the inaugural event in 2016 to $7,185,000.

Half of the 2019 proceeds will be distributed to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  Nearly 100 other primarily local charities will share the remaining $1.2 million in varying amounts.

The grand total raised and charitable organization recipients were revealed at an event on Wednesday at the American Family Insurance corporate headquarters.  The event featured championship host/player Steve Stricker, his wife, Nicki, American Family Insurance Chair and CEO Jack Salzwedel, numerous tournament sponsors, and volunteers.

The fourth annual American Family Insurance Championship was held in June at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison.  More than 70,000 spectators from 32 states attended during the three days of tournament play.

Next year’s event will be held earlier than previous years with the three day tournament running from June 5-7.  Madison’s Jerry Kelly will return as defending champion and Stricker will play in the tournament for the fourth time.

 

Kelly wins AmFam title in a playoff

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Madison’s Jerry Kelly held off tournament host Steve Stricker and World Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen in a playoff to win the American Family Insurance Championship  on Sunday at University Ridge.

Stricker missed a birdie putt from 8-feet away on the final regulation hole that would have given him the title.  Stricker then dropped out of the three way playoff on the first extra hole.

Kelly needed to more holes to knock off Goosen, winning with a birdie on the par 4 15th hole.

Kelly actually had the chance to win it in regulation as well, but he bogied the final hole of regulation to let Goosen and Stricker back into the mix.

Stricker missed some chances with the putter in the final round and still had an opportunity to win late. [Read more…]

McCarron Captures American Family Insurance title

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52-year-old Scott McCarron fired a final round eight-under par 64 on Sunday to win the 2018 American Family Insurance Championship.

McCarron posted a three-round score of 15-under 201 for a one stroke victory over Madison’s Jerry Kelly.  He finished two shots better than Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie and tournament host Steve Stricker.

McCarron birdied five of his last 10 holes to earn his 15th professional victory and seventh on the Champions Tour.  He pockets $300,000 for the victory.

Jerry Kelly shot a seven-under 65 and had a one shot lead through 16 holes before missing a 10-footer for birdie on 17.  He parred 18.

Stricker shot a seven-under 65 on Sunday, but his two-over 74 on Saturday turned out to be the difference.

AUDIO: Steve Stricker says Saturday’s 74 cost him :17

AUDIO: Jerry Kelly thought he played well enough to win :17

AUDIO: Scott McCarron said it’s great to win against a stacked field :22

 

Champions Tour event in the fold through 2020

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Steve Stricker

The American Family Insurance Championship has finalized contract extensions through 2020.

The extension calls for the event to continue at University Ridge, which will undergo a number of improvements, including Bunker renovation, expansion of the players’ locker room and dining facilities, expansion of tournament operations staging locations as well as other on course improvements.

This years event will be held June 18-24 at University Ridge in Madison.  The three round event is hosted by Madison’s 12-time PGA Tour winner Steve Stricker.  Stricker partnered with American Family Insurance to bring PGA Tour competition back to the state.

In just two years, the tournament has raised more than $2.7 million for charity and more than 100,000 fans came to watch.

Fred Couples won last years event.  Stricker, who made his debut last year, tied for third.

 

 

Triplett wins inaugural American Family Championship (AUDIO)

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amfam_championship_logoFollowing a bogey on the 10th hole, Kirk Triplett followed up with birdies on holes 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to win the inaugural American Family Insurance Championship.

Triplett still needed help from leader Bart Bryant, who delivered a triple-bogey seven on the 15th hole which cost him the lead and eventually the tournament.

Triplett said he was getting ready to hit a chip shot on hole number 16 when he glanced up at a leader board.  What he saw was his name atop the leader board with a one-shot lead.  He went on to birdie 16 and increase his lead to two shots.

Triplett went on to par the last two holes to finish with a 65 to win for the fifth time on the PGA Champions Tour.  Triplett earned $300,000 for the win and climbed to fifth on the money list with $767,965. [Read more…]

Legendary foursome to tee it up at AmFam Championship, Osceola’s Danielson qualifies for U.S. Open

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amfam_championship_logo

The American Family Insurance Championship announced a one-of-a-kind foursome for the June 24-26 event at University Ridge in Madison.

Green Bay Packers and soon-to-be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, will join former Packers teammate and Badgers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher, two-time U.S. Open Champion Andy North, and event host and 12-time PGA Tour winner Steve Stricker for a 9-hole scramble.

The foursome will tee off on Hole #10 following the final group of the PGA Tour Champions field (approximately 2:00 p.m.), and play the final nine holes on Saturday, June 25. [Read more…]

Kendall to return for American Family Insurance Championship

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amfam_championship_logoWisconsin native Skip Kendall will play in the first-ever PGA Tour Champions American Family Insurance Championship, June 24-26, at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison.  Kendall received a sponsor’s exemption from American Family.

Kendall was born and raised in the Milwaukee area, before playing collegiate golf at UNLV.  He then hit the professional golf ranks, winning four times on the Web.com Tour, and earning 26 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour and three top-10 finishes on the PGA Champions Tour.

Kendall also won the Wisconsin State Open in 1988 and 1989.

Fans can purchase tickets for the American Family Insurance Championship at the tournament website at www.amfamchampionship.com.