Hole-in-one helps Steph Curry keep lead America Century Championship

STATELINE, Nevada — Buoyed by a hole-in-one on No. 7, Steph Curry finds himself in an unusual spot on the golf course.

Curry, the Golden State Warriors All-Star guard will head into the final round Sunday at the 2023 America Century Championship in the lead with 50 points, ahead of both Mardy Fish and Joe Pavelski, who have each 47. This is the first time Curry has had the lead after two rounds of the event.

Curry’s ace on the 152-yard hole No. 7 was his second ever and the first in a tournament. After he saw his ball fall in the cup Curry threw down his hat and ran down the fairway with his arms widespread. It was the first ace on No. 7 in the 34-year history of the tournament, and fifth overall.

Players are awarded one point for pars, three points for birdies and six points for eagles. Double bogeys or worse account for two-point deductions. Curry’s ace was worth six points.

Curry said his adrenaline level is already high in the tournament and the ace just added to it.

“I’m actually glad I held it together for the most part. In the middle of the round, I had a couple of bad shots, I had a bad break on the par-3, but to come back and finish even last five holes, six holes, for me that’s the most — I guess I’m impressed with for the day after the hole-in-one because it could have gone all over the place with where my excitement level was,” Curry said.

Curry said he will draw on his basketball experience to help him Sunday.

“Just being in those situations where the stakes are high. You want something really bad and you have to kind of sleep on the thoughts that you’re having about what might happen the next day,” Curry said. “There’s a little bit of similarity, but for the most part, when I wake up in the morning, come to the course, again you have to kind of treat it like a normal round. I’m sure I’ll have some kind of anxiousness and jitters just because you’re kind of out of your comfort zone a little bit.”

Curry is proud of his run down the fairway after the ace, saying: “I just know the sprint was phenomenal. Great form. I had a couple moments to celebrate, the hat came off, the glove went off. Tried to get the crowd into it. I don’t know what my speed was, but it was up there. It was good.”

He does not consider Edgewood his home course, although he has played in the ACC 10 times.

“I don’t have any type of home-course advantage or any know-how, no more than Mardy or Joe. They’ve both been in a final group on Sunday. Mardy’s won one, Joe in the playoff last year. I haven’t been in that experience before. But all I’m going to do is have fun and play,” Curry said.

His best finish at Edgewood is fourth place. Fish said Curry will handle any pressure Sunday just fine.

“It’s a different feeling, but something tells me he’s going to be fine in terms of pressure or anything like that,” Fish said.

The third and final round of the 34th annual ACC celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe is Sunday.

Previous winner Mulder close behind

Three-time ACC winner Mark Mulder made a big jump Saturday, scoring 28 points in Saturday’s second round to give him 38.

Mulder, a former MLB pitcher, is tied for fourth place with actor Jack Wagner.

Mulder said his 10-point first round on Friday was not good.

“For some reason, as good as I was hitting it, I just had a really terrible day (Friday), ” Mulder said. “But that’s golf. I knew things would change today. I didn’t necessarily get myself back into it today, but at least I gave myself a chance.”

He had four birdies on the front nine and three on the back Saturday.

“When you see a couple balls go in, that’s when things change. That’s the biggest thing, just starting to see a ball go in the hole. When that happens, that helps,” Mulder said.

Saturday was sold out for spectators and fans lined almost every tee and green, especially on holes 16, 17 and 18.

“The energy, you can’t replicate this. I always tell friends, 16, 17, 18, you’re going to hit the ball further with whatever club you choose than you will at anytime of year, because of the adrenaline,” Mulder said. “You’re in altitude, adrenaline, just have to trust the shot. Saturday here, the amount of people that are out, there’s been a lot of boats on 17, but that might be the most I’ve seen. So it’s pretty cool.”

Mulder said he will not play it safe in Sunday’s third round.

“I didn’t come here to try to finish second, third, fourth, fifth, I came here to win. So 18 pars is 18 points. Nine birdies, nine bogeys is 27 points,” Mulder said. “I will be going after every single shot possible (Sunday) no matter what.”

Wagner has strong day

Jack Wagner, one of two celebrities to play in every golf tournament at Edgewood, along with Jim McMahon, scored 21 points Saturday and has 38 heading into Sunday.

“It’s fantastic that Steph Curry is playing so well. I think it’s great for the tournament, and he’s a really great golfer. “This has been an honor to be here for 34 years. I feel like I’m part of a group here that it’s really, as you can see, not only the people, but the athletes and celebrities, we really have fun up here. This is really a blast.”

The tournament was first held at Edgewood in 1990. This is the 25th year American Century has been the sponsor.

Mayfield enjoying ACC debut

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield made his first appearance in the celebrity golf tournament this week, and became the latest Heisman Trophy winner to participate.

The former Oklahoma star has minus-13 points and is tied for 73rd place.

The other Heisman winners in the field this year are Charles Woodson (Michigan cornerback), Marcus Allen (USC running back), Tim Brown (Notre Dame wide receiver) and Reggie Bush (USC running back).

Historically, nine Heisman winners have competed in the ACC.

Mayfield said the experience was “Unbelievable. Just a great round, great atmosphere. To go from playing just rounds with your buddies to this, it’s pretty incredible.”

More notable scores

Charles Barkley is tied for 81st place with minus-25 points. Patrick Mahomes is tied for 57 with 1 point. Annika Sorenstam is tied for eighth with Derek Lowe, each with 34 points. Defending champion Tony Romo is tied for 12th with 32 points, along with Aaron Rodgers and Brian Urlacher.