BUCKINGHAM — Ted Kwalick, a three-time NFL Pro Bowler who played tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, led his morning team to victory in the 11th annual Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Shootout on Saturday at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
The Shootout, sponsored by Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa and hosted by Buckingham, is a scramble-format tournament. Each of the former NFL stars in the field teams up with four amateur golfers during a morning flight and then four different amateur golfers during an afternoon flight.
Kwalik and his Sacramento-based foursome of Daniel Hudson, Cameron Champ, Cecelia Hood and Louis Lopez teamed up for a low score of 10-under-par 26 on Buckingham”s front nine to win by one shot. The Kwalik team eagled the par-4 fifth hole and birdied the other eight holes.
The top golfer on the Kwalik team was 12-year-old Champ, a 2-handicap golfer who plays out of Northridge Country Club and Whitney Oaks Golf, both Sacramento-area venues. Champ also won the closest-to-the-pin contest, knocking his tee shot on the 165-yard par-3 third hole to within 8 feet of the pin.
In second place during the morning session was the team of future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice of 49ers fame. His team included Lakeport residents Dr. Keith Long, Bobby Bryant, Greg Scott, the reigning On the Links Senior Golf of the Year, and Sean Lyon. Rice”s team eagled the par-5 fourth and seventh holes and made five more birdies to come in at 9-under-par 27.
Two teams tied for third place at 7-under-par 29. “Mad Bomber” Daryle Lamonica of Raiders fame and his Middletown-Twin Pines Casino teammates made five birdies and an eagle. The Lamonica team featured Frank Velarde, Ray Simon Jr., Moke Simon Jr., and Moke Simon III.
Former 49ers and Patriots tight end Russ Francis and his teammates also had five birdies and an eagle. The Francis team featured Tag Wotherspoon of Fortuna, his nephew, Peter Wotherspoon of Kelseyville, All-Coastal Mountain Conference golfer Nick Schaefer of Kelseyville, and Kelseyville High School golf coach John Berry.
In the afternoon division of the Shootout, former 49ers and Raiders running back Roger Craig and his Lakeport-KXBX team prevailed over the competition, recording a 9-under-par 27. Craig”s teammates included the area”s top amateur golfer, Juan Lopez, Upper Lake High School coach Craig Kinser, referee Alan Mathews, and Mike Wilson. The Craig team had one eagle and seven birdies while covering Buckingham”s difficult back nine.
Tied for second place in the afternoon flight were the teams captained by Kenny “The Snake” Stabler and Kwalik. The Stabler team included Stockton-area golfers John McDermott, Michael Gilette, Liniquas Breland and Darrell Yee. They made six birdies and added an eagle to shot 8-under-par 28.
Kwalik”s afternoon team included amateur golfers from the Windsor area — Ken Crownover, Keith Crownover, Jeff Tuttle and Pete Orrfelt. They also finished at 8-under-par 28, which featured an eagle and six birdies.
Phil Psalmonds of Lakeport won the closest-to-the-pin contest on the 15th hole when his tee shot rolled to within 6 feet of the cup.
Kwalik was the overall NFL alumni champion as his morning and afternoon teams combined for a 17-under-par final score.
The field at this year”s Shootout included 35 teams, 18 competing in the morning session and 17 in the afternoon flight.
