The Showcase: Golf event at Coeur d’Alene Resort has raised millions for Community Cancer Fund
Detlef Schrempf walked off the final hole of The Showcase Celeb-Am at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Saturday, the former Washington Husky and Seattle Supersonic hastily making his way toward the course’s outdoor bar.
“That bad of a round, huh?” a smiling Darius Rucker asked Schrempf from the comfort of the shaded adult beverage area.
“Just one bad hole,” Schrempf said as he put down his clubs and joined the singer-songwriter.
That’s all it took to separate the top from the middle tier at the fourth annual event, which has helped raise millions for Community Cancer Fund.
Former NHL All-Star Brenden Morrow was able to shake off a 3-putt on the 11th hole to capture his second consecutive tournament championship.
The 38-year-old Morrow, grouped with his three-time Stanley Cup champ father-in-law, Guy Carbonneau, and Roger “Rocket” Clemens, finished 4-under, edging second-place Charbonneau (3-under) and third-place Ray Whitney (2-under), another former NHL great and former Spokane Chief.
“Those hockey players are good golfers,” said former Washington State quarterback and Super Bowl Champion Mark Rypien, a regular participant. “Brenden has been playing well.”
Morrow, a “scratch-ish” golfer, credited his competitive group.
“I did better than I have been lately. And I was playing with a great group of guys,” he said. “It is light-hearted and for a good cause, but we’re all ex-athletes. We compete and want to win. It was just a good atmosphere overall. Everything was pretty sharp.”
Twenty-four golfers – ranging from actors, musicians and professional athletes, both retired and active – were split into eight threesomes.
Spokane native Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning was grouped with Rucker and Roy Green. Johnson’s Tampa Bay coach, John Cooper, played with Wayne and Janet Gretzky, whose team was named corporate champion of the tournament.
Janet Gretzky, The Great One’s actress wife, also had the tournament’s lowest net score (96). Clemens finished second in net scoring (98) and Fred McGriff, another former MLB star, was third (99).
McGriff’s groupmate, ex-San Antonio Spurs great Bruce Bowen, enjoyed the celebrity gathering and its cause.
“What a great time being here for the fact that you’re really here to impact something that everybody deals with, as far as cancer is being concerned,” Bowen said. “It’s something that we have to keep fighting. The more we can have these types of events, the more celebrities come, the more we’re aware and are truly able to have an impact.”
Rypien, a well-known advocate in the fight against cancer with The Mark Rypien Foundation, hopes to see The Showcase continue its growth.
“The type of celebrities we’re getting here every year just keeps getting better and better. Hopefully this gets to a point where it’s as big as all the other celebrity golf events across the country,” said Rypien, who lost his 3-year-old son, Andrew, to brain cancer in 1998.
“I am just honored to be a part of it. And what they’re doing to make the lives of anyone going through cancer a little bit easier, building another Ronald McDonald House in North Idaho, giving people and families an opportunity to go through their treatment and make their quality care a little easier.”
The Showcase helped raise more than $5.8 million for Community Cancer Fund in the first three years. Jared Keefer, executive director and co-founder of the Community Cancer Fund, believes after Saturday night’s auction, which included a private concert by Adam Levine and Maroon 5, the fundraising will be on pace to match previous years.
“The celebrities, the sponsors and the fan support continue to grow,” Keefer said. “I am really happy with the continued support. Not only are we getting guys coming back, but they’re also telling people about it.”