George Lopez and Steve Garvey Enter Field as First-timers, "Big Ben"Also Set to Return
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. (March 13, 2006) – From funny men and sports icons to the young stars of the LPGA, a spectacular cast of celebrities from music, television, sports and the movies will take the stage at the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship Celebrity Pro-Am. The two-day event will be held Tuesday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 29, at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and will once again offer free admission for adults 55 and over as part of the LPGA tournament’s popular Senior Appreciation Days.
On tap for Tournament Week are two of America’s top sports legends, Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and former Dodger All-Star Steve Garvey. Roethlisberger made his debut at the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year at the Celebrity Pro-Am, while Garvey is making his first appearance.
The four-time Gold Glover will be joined by another Kraft Nabisco first-timer, comedian George Lopez. One of the premier comic talents today, Lopez is the star, writer, producer and co-creator of the the hit ABC sitcom "George Lopez."
Also making his debut this year is Jon Lovitz, who will be playing tennis in the Kraft Nabisco Championship’s annual tennis tournament on Monday, March 27, rather than golf in the Celebrity Pro-Am. This "Saturday Night Live" veteran has been seen in such comedy hits as A League of Their Own and The Wedding Singer.
Joining Roethlisberger and Garvey from the world of sports are Carlton Fisk, Franco Harris, Lisa Fernandez, John Havlicek, Wally Joyner, Harmon Killebrew, Don Meredith, Jim Plunkett, Brooks Robinson, Gale Sayers, Bucky Waters and Mark Woodforde.
The All-Star lineup also includes John Callahan, Norm Crosby, Kassie DePaiva and James DePaiva, Patrick Duffy, Rudy Gatlin, Bob Goen, Matt Griesser, Mary Hart, David Leisure, Hal Linden, Cheech Marin, Ed Marinaro, Lisa Myers, Wayne Rogers, Tommy Smothers, Elke Sommer, Kevin Sorbo and Toni Tennille. Graeme Baxter, the world’s foremost painter of golf course landscapes, along with sports personality "Super" Dave Osborne and celebrity impersonator Scott Record, round out this year’s field.
The Celebrity Pro-Am will be held on both the Arnold Palmer Course and the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. Cameras and video cameras are welcome during both days of the Pro-Am.
The 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship celebrates its 35th anniversary March 27 – April 2 at Mission Hills Country Club. This year’s tournament will feature the best players in women’s professional golf, led by defending champion Annika Sorenstam who will be playing for her fourth Kraft Nabisco title. Most of the tournament’s past champions are also expected to return for the 35th anniversary celebration.
The week kicks off on Monday, March 27, with a practice round for the LPGA players and free public admission, the Celebrity Hole-in-One Contest for Charity at 4 p.m. and the final round of the Toyota/Kraft Nabisco $1 Million Hole-in-One Contest. The Celebrity Pro-Am runs Tuesday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 29, followed by championship play Thursday, March 30, through Sunday, April 2. Family Day, Saturday, April 1, celebrates golf fans of all ages with family-oriented activities and a free Junior Golf Clinic at 3 p.m. For more information, please call 760/324-4546 or visit the tournament Web site at www.KNCGOLF.com.
Contact:
Donna Hahn
Hahn Communications
949/458-3983
donna@hahnmarketing.com
Larry Baumann
Kraft Foods Global Inc.
914/425-3890
larry.baumann@kraft.com
