So many of the 50 Hollywood and sports stars invited to play in the Michael Jordan/Ronald McDonald Children`s Charities Celebrity Golf
Championship turned out Sunday night for a party at Marriott`s Lincolnshire Resort, you needed subscriptions to People magazine and Sports Illustrated to keep them straight.
Ticket prices for the 300 or so regular folk in attendance were $400-a deal if you`ve always wanted to ask Ernie Banks or Vince Van Patten to pass the salt. For Wynton Marsalis fans, it was a double treat. The jazz trumpeter- composer rocked the Grand Ballroom with an intimate performance for the fete`s finale.
John Denver, who managed to shoot 74 Saturday and 76 Sunday at the par 72 Kemper Lakes Golf Course in Long Grove, where the tournament was held, was on a Rocky Mountain high. One of 16 stars who did well enough to be paired off with 16 PGA pros and compete for a $230,000 prize pool on Monday, he ”made the cut. I get to keep playing,” he said, beaming.
Because it was his party, Michael Jordan, who shot 76 and 81, got to play automatically. A few scores and excuses-er, reasons, from those who didn`t:
Actor Richard Roundtree, who racked up 179 for the weekend: ”I did fantastic given the fact I`ve only been playing 16 months.”
Retired NFL player-turned-actor, Fred ”The Hammer” Williamson, 169:
”It was hard playing in the dark. We went out at 2 (p.m.) yesterday, got back at 8 (p.m.). Couldn`t see the last three holes.”
Actor Danny Baldwin, 168: ”It hasn`t been a good couple of days.”
Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen, 177: ”I lost at least 20 balls. I play the worst when I`m in training. At least it sounds good.”
Former Bear Otis Wilson, 212: ”If I was any good, I`d be on tour.”
Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, 234: ”I started off well, did OK for three or four holes, then lost concentration. I`ve only been playing two months.”
