Chubb Classic: Golf to Paradise-First Tee Champions Challenge returns at Quail Creek

The First Tee kids are coming back to the Chubb Classic this week — coronavirus pandemic or not.

The Golf To Paradise-First Tee Champions Challenge will be Friday through Sunday at Quail Creek Country Club. But the event, sponsored by the Collier County tourism bureau, is considered part of the PGA Tour Champions event, which is presented by SERVPRO.

"We are very pleased to once again host the First Tee Challenge Championship," Collier County tourism director Jack Wert said. "This annual event brings 12 teams from First Tee Chapters in many parts of the U.S. to Naples to compete in their very own championship.

"This event is the perfect complement to the Chubb Classic, now celebrating 32 years in our community."

There are 12 two-person teams from First Tee chapters around the country, including Willem Jaron and Maggie Platten of the Naples/Collier chapter.

"First Tee-Naples/Collier is honored to, once again, be the host charity of the Chubb Classic," executive director Cindy Darland said. "We are also excited to welcome 24 First Tee participants from around the country."

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The teams will play scramble in the first round, modified alternate shot in the second round, and best ball in the third round.

In addition to the competition, the First Tee players also get a teaching clinic with Champions Tour players Thursday, and can catch the pro-am Thursday and the first two rounds of the tournament.

The other First Tee participants are: Mason Kim and Ahmad Raoul of Greater Chicago; Cameron Mills and Daryn Dickens of Greater Washington, D.C.; Dakota Stacy and Jessica Moran of Indiana; Anna Ziegler and Hunter Brunell of Northwest Arkansas; Grace Richards and Matthew French of North Florida; Phoenix Baker and Dakota Baker of Greater Philadelphia; Izabela Aigner and Jamie Rush of Pittsburgh; Julia Contreras and Maria Contreras of Twin Cities; Justin Heaton and Kaitlyn Rand of Triangle; Angelo Luciani and Dakota Johnson of West Michigan; and Matthew Bui and Teagan Connors of Greater New Orleans.

Cejka wins qualifier: Alex Cejka was the medalist at the qualifier Monday at The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers. Cejka fired an 8-under-par 64. He has 14 professional wins, with his only one on the PGA Tour coming in a playoff in the 2015 Puerto Rico Open when he beat Emiliano Grillo, Jon Curran, Tim Petrovic, and Sam Saunders.

The other qualifiers were Frank Lickliter (-7), Bobby Gage (-6) and Jesus Rivas (-5). Rivas won a playoff over Mark Walker for the final spot. But Gage had to withdraw Tuesday morning.

Perry withdraws, Brooks, Mize in: Kenny Perry, who's had a great deal of success in Naples over the years, withdrew on Monday and was replaced by Mark Brooks.

Perry, 60, won the QBE Shootout in 2005, 2008 and 2012 on Tiburón's Gold Course with John Huston, Scott Hoch, and Sean O'Hair, respectively, then won the Chubb Classic when it was known as The ACE Group Classic in 2012 at TwinEagles. He has 10 PGA Tour Champions victories.

Brooks, also 60, won the PGA Championship in 1996, and has six other PGA Tour victories. 

Larry Mize, the 1987 Masters champion, also got in the field when Gage, one of the Monday qualifiers, withdrew.

Steve Pate is now the first alternate.

A reminder that there is no general public admission this week.

Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/

Chubb Classic Pro-Am
Wednesday Pro Tee Times
No. 1 Tee

at Tiburón Golf Club, Black Course

7:10 a.m. — Mark Brooks; 7:20 a.m. — Glen Day; 7:30 a.m. — Scott Dunlap; 7:40 a.m. — Duffy Waldorf; 7:50 a.m. — Peter Jacobsen; 8 a.m. — Robert Karlsson; 8:10 a.m. — Tom Pernice Jr.; 8:20 a.m. — Gene Sauers; 8:30 a.m. — Scott Hoch; 8:40 a.m. — Shane Bertsch; 8:50 a.m. — Chris DiMarco; 9 a.m. — Corey Pavin; 9:10 a.m. — Michael Allen; 9:20 a.m. — David McKenzie; 9:30 a.m. — Doug Barron; 9:40 a.m. — Jay Haas; 9:50 a.m. — Tommy Armour III; 10 a.m. — Craig Bowden; 10:10 a.m. — Fran Quinn; 10:20 a.m. — Mike Weir; 10:30 a.m. — Brad Faxon; 10:40 a.m. — Stephen Leaney; 10:50 a.m. — David Frost; 11 a.m. — Rod Pampling; 11:10 a.m. — Tim Herron; 11:20 a.m. — Billy Mayfair; 11:30 a.m. — Fred Funk; 11:40 a.m. — Darren Clarke; 11:50 a.m. — Tom Byrum; Noon — Wes Short Jr.; 12:10 p.m. — Loren Roberts; 12:20 p.m. — Tom Gillis; 12:30 p.m. — Robin Byrd; 12:40 p.m. — Scott Verplank; 12:50 p.m. — Steve Jones; 1 p.m. — Brett Quigley; 1:10 p.m. — Jesper Parnevik; 1:20 p.m. — John Huston; 1:30 p.m. — Olin Browne; 1:40 p.m. — Cameron Beckman; 1:50 p.m. — Jeff Sluman; 2 p.m. — Alex Cejka; 2:10 p.m. — Frank Lickliter; 2:20 p.m. — Larry Mize; 2:30 p.m. — Jesus Rivas

Thursday Pro Tee Times
No. 1 Tee

at Tiburón Golf Club, Black Course

8 a.m. — Brandt Jobe; 8:10 a.m. — David Toms; 8:20 a.m. — Jerry Kelly; 8:30 a.m. — Scott Parel; 8:40 a.m. — Ernie Els; 8:50 a.m. — Miguel Angel Jimenez; 9 a.m. — Vijay Singh; 9:10 a.m. — Rocco Mediate; 9:20 a.m. — Stephen Ames; 9:30 a.m. — Scott McCarron; 9:40 a.m. — Paul Broadhurst; 9:50 a.m. — Woody Austin; 10 a.m. — Bernhard Langer; 10:10 a.m. — Colin Montgomerie; 10:20 a.m. — Steve Stricker; 10:30 a.m. — Retief Goosen; 10:40 a.m. — Jeff Maggert; 10:50 a.m. — Lee Janzen; 11 a.m. — Jose Maria Olazabal; 11:10 a.m. — Sandy Lyle; 11:20 a.m. — Kirk Triplett; 11:30 a.m. — John Harris; 11:40 a.m. — Tom Lehman; 11:50 a.m. — Billy Andrade; Noon — Ken Tanigawa; 12:10 p.m. — Joe Durant; 12:20 p.m. — Marco Dawson; 12:30 p.m. — Mark O'Meara; 12:40 p.m. — Steve Flesch; 12:50 p.m. — Kent Jones; 1 p.m. — Fred Couples; 1:10 p.m. — Ian Woosnam; 1:20 p.m. — Tim Petrovic; 1:30 p.m. — Ken Duke