Joe Pavelski, a former NHL standout, clinched the title at the American Century Championship on Sunday, showcasing his skills at Edgewood Tahoe. With a stunning eagle on the final hole, he secured a nine-point lead over former MLB pitcher John Smoltz, achieving a wire-to-wire victory in this prestigious celebrity tournament.
Under the modified Stableford scoring system, Pavelski amassed 29 points during his final round, culminating in a total score of 73. This victory comes after finishing second last year to tennis legend Mardy Fish.
"I don't know what to say, actually," Pavelski remarked, celebrating his 41st birthday just days prior. "But just an amazing week. This place is incredible. It means the world to me."
His performance earned him a substantial $150,000 from the event's total purse of $750,000.
Smoltz finished with a commendable 28 points in his final round, reflecting on his competitive spirit: "I was trying to put heat on anybody, the top three. I was just trying to climb as many people as I could."
Country music artist Jake Owen secured third place with a score of 62 after a solid 21-point performance.
Former soccer player Taylor Twellman, who shared the lead with Pavelski after the second round, ended up fourth with a total of 61 points, scoring 17 in the final round.
NBA superstar Stephen Curry, the reigning champion from 2023, placed fifth with a score of 58 after earning 23 points in his last round.
In contrast, Charles Barkley struggled throughout the event, finishing in 69th place among the 90-player field with a score of minus-17 points.
