Shaw Charity Classic   — Country music star Chad Brownlee; NHL greats Mike Vernon, Grant Fuhr, Lanny McDonald, Colin Patterson, Mark Jankowski, Dillon Dube; Bareback Champ Davey Shields; CFLer Scott Coe; and Olympians Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Ben Hebert headline special Super Saturday at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Freedom Mobile—

 

CALGARY—From guitars to pucks, to footballs, curling rocks and skis to bucking horses, some of Alberta’s most recognized community ambassadors are trading in their regular tools of the trade for golf clubs when they tee off in the inaugural Celebrity Shootout on Super Saturday at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Freedom Mobile, August 31, at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

Canadian country music star, Chad Brownlee, will be amongst one dozen current and former NHL and CFL stars, along with three of the country’s most decorated Olympians and a four-time Calgary Stampede Bareback champion, who will battle for $40,000 in prize money while playing for one of the 200 charities participating in the Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program in the first unique exhibition “horse race” format ever held during at PGA TOUR Champions event. Brownlee will perform a live concert on a stage that will be set up on the 10th fairway immediately following play.

“We are committed to not only ensuring golf fans in Calgary have the opportunity to watch many of the best names in the game, but also to continue finding innovative ways to introduce more people to our event while delivering a memorable experience for all ages to enjoy,” said Sean Van Kesteren, executive director, Shaw Charity Classic. “The Celebrity Shootout will headline a new lineup of activities on Super Saturday at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Freedom Mobile, taking our annual TD Kids’ Day tradition to a new level of excitement and bringing sport fans, music lovers and families together with the stars of the PGA TOUR Champions for a memorable day at the golf course.”

The Battle of Alberta will be in full swing during the Celebrity Shootout on the links as two of the NHL’s top goalies of the 1980s – Mike Vernon and Grant Fuhr – will be amongst the 12 athletes teeing it up. Also competing for charity are two more Stanley Cup champions: Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald, and Colin Patterson. Two rising stars on the current Calgary Flames roster, Mark Jankowski and Dillon Dube, will also be swapping hockey sticks for golf clubs along with one of the most colourful characters in Calgary Stampeders history, Scott Coe.

Four-time Calgary Stampede Bareback Champion, Davey Shields, will also be launching drives in hopes of making a positive impact on a youth-based Alberta charity. He will have to contend with three of the nation’s most accomplished Winter Olympic champions. Three-time Olympic medallist in women’s hockey, Cassie Campbell-Pascall along with Olympic alpine-ski champ, Kerrin Lee-Gartner, have committed their names to the battle on the back nine of Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club along with one of curling’s greatest leads – Olympic champion, Ben Hebert.

“The Shaw Charity Classic is such a fantastic community event. So much money has been raised over the years for youth in Alberta and every year there are new exciting events, like this year’s unique Celebrity Shootout!” said Kerrin Lee-Gartner, a passionate golfer herself, who won the 2017 Calgary Ladies Golf Association’s Senior Amateur. “Being involved in this event is such an honour; having the opportunity to play behind some of my heroes in the sport while going head-to-head with so many of Alberta’s greatest athletes who I have tremendous respect for – all playing a game we love with two goals in mind – to have fun with the community we call home, and raise important funds for thousands of Alberta kids.”

Each participant will be provided with $1,000 CDN for a charity of his/her choice associated with the Shaw Charity Classic. Charity prize money will also be distributed to the top-three finishers: $15,000 (first place); $7,000 (second place); $5,000 (third place). The award presentation will take place on stage prior to the Chad Brownlee concert.

Two groups of six celebrities will start by teeing off the 10th tee box at 2:15 p.m. for the nine-hole event with the highest score after each of the nine holes eliminated. (Two players will be eliminated after each of the first two holes). The two groups will form into one large group of eight on the third hole. Players will be dropped from the competition until there are two players remaining on the final hole, with the winner declared on the 18th green.

Immediately following play, the stars of Alberta sport will be on stage, located on the 10th fairway, to introduce Chad Brownlee who will provide an unforgettable live concert experience.

“In addition to music, I have a deep passion for everything the Shaw Charity Classic represents: sport, philanthropy and community,” said Brownlee, a Vancouver Canuck draft pick, who holds an annual charity golf tournament of his own in British Columbia. “I am very honoured to have the opportunity to not only play some golf behind the legends of the game, but also to perform in front of the enthusiastic golf and music fans in Calgary, and most importantly, contribute to making a positive impact on Alberta youth. This is going to be a whole lot of fun.”

Music and sport fans will have the opportunity to meet each of the stars during a short autograph appearance in the HSBC Fan Experience Area at 12:30 p.m. as part of the TD Kids’ Day activities that will feature visits from local mascots including: Buddy the Beaver – official mascot of the 107th Grey Cup; the Grey Cup; interactive sport exhibits; a bouncy castle, arts and craft stations; scavenger hunts; carnival games; and giveaways.

About the Shaw Charity Classic

The Shaw Charity Classic will host some of the greatest names in the game of golf in Calgary at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, August 28 – September 1, 2019. The field, which will consist of 78 stars on the PGA TOUR Champions, will compete for US $2.35 million in a three-round, 54-hole stroke-play tournament. The winner will receive US $352,500. The annual PGA TOUR Champions stop in Canada showcases Calgary to the world through its broadcast on the Golf Channel. Led by a philanthropic Patron Group including Tournament Chairman – Jim Riddell, Allan Markin, Keith MacPhail, Guy Turcotte, Gary Peddle, Mike Culbert and PGA Tour Professional – Stephen Ames, along with title sponsor, Shaw Communications, the Shaw Charity Classic won the prestigious President’s Award as the top event on the PGA TOUR Champions in 2017, 2015 and 2014. The Tournament has raised more than $34 million in its first six years, with a PGA TOUR Champions record-setting donation of $12,357,863 raised in 2018 that was distributed amongst 182 youth-based charities in Alberta. For more information on the event, please visit www.shawcharityclassic.com. Follow the Shaw Charity Classic at facebook.com/shawcharityclassic and on Twitter @shawclassic.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:                                                    

Chris Dornan                                                         

Shaw Charity Classic                           

T: 403-620-8731