NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — LPGA professional Annika Sorenstam and Hootie & The Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker survived a one-hole chip off to lead their six-person team to the 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament title. Sorenstam and Rucker's team defeated two other teams on a chip off on the 3rd hole green after both teams finished 16-under-par after 18 holes.
For the third consecutive year, an estimated 6,000 golf fans packed The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf to see their favorite celebrities, athletes and musicians compete in the 14th annual Monday After The Masters Tournament in North Myrtle Beach, SC
The field for 2008 Monday After The Masters Tournament featured many of the biggest names in music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. The musicians included R&B singer Javier; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; singer/songwriter Samantha Cole; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station. Actors participating in the 2008 Monday After The Masters ranged from Gary Valentine of "King of Queens"; Kevin Sorbo of "Hercules" to comedian Jackie Flynn who made his first Monday After The Masters appearance.
Cast members of the new Golf Channel golf reality show, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley; ESPN commentator Chalie Rymer and Duramed FUTURES TOUR golfer Perry Swenson also participated. Former NFL players Dan Marino, Derek Anderson, Vencie Glenn, Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Gale Sayers, Sterling Sharpe, Kordell Stewart and NFL analyst Paul McGuire competed today, along with former Major League Baseball stars Ken Griffey, Sr., Chuck Finley, Eric Karros and Mickey Tettleton. The professional golf field was once again loaded with talent with a roster that included Annika Sorenstam, Woody Austin, Laura Davies, Josh Broadaway, Jason Caron, Kris Cox, Todd Demsey, Lee Elder, Nick Flanagan, Robert Gamez, Ryan Howison, Billy Kratzert, Mark Lye, Steve Marino, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Tim O'Neal, D.A. Points, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Mike Sposa, Kevin Streelman, Jim Thorpe, Marc Turnesa and three-time world long drive champion Sean "The Beast" Fister. Coastal Carolina University graduate and new PGA TOUR member Dustin Johnson and Clemson University graduate D.J. Trahan represented the state of South Carolina in the 2008 tournament.
"We had a wonderful turnout today here at The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf with our third straight sellout," said Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & The Blowfish. "The weather cooperated with sunshine in the morning and the rain held off at the end. Thanks to Annika's leadership, we fielded a strong team this year and worked well together to get back to the winner's circle in 2008. It was cool to see all of our fans come again and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year."
The 2008 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament kicked off Sunday night with a Live Auction and Pairings Party at the House of Blues. Every year, the Live Auction raises money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation which supports the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and the educational needs of children in South Carolina. The total amount raised during the 2008 Monday After The Masters Tournament will be announced at a later date.
One of the most popular items up for bid at the Auction was the band's first touring van, a 1993 Ford Econoline Conversion Van Explorer. Customized by West Coast Customs, the automotive restyling center that handled the conversions on MTV's "Pimp My Ride," the van was auctioned off for $90,000 to Myrtle Beach entrepreneur Joe Rice. In 2006, Rice and John Daly battled in the Live Auction for the van before Daly made the winning bid. Daly donated the van back to the Tournament this year to raise more money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation.
"The Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters continues to be one of the most popular events each year in the Myrtle Beach area," said Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday President. "It would not be a spring golf season here on the Grand Strand without the Monday After the Masters Tournament. Golf fans mark this event on their calendar every year and we look forward to continuing the relationship with the band."
For anyone who could not attend this year's tournament in "The Golf Capital of the World," Golf Channel will broadcast a highlight show in May with interviews and footage from the 2007 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
