South Lake Tahoe, CA — July 14, 2025
The Sierra sizzled this weekend—and we’re not just talking about the temps.

With Edgewood Tahoe’s greens glowing under the summer sun and fans fanning themselves on the shoreline, hockey veteran Joe Pavelski delivered a tournament moment for the ages: a walk-off eagle on 18 to seal his first-ever American Century Championship win.

Yep, while the crowd cheered on fan favorites like Stephen Curry, the Kelce brothers, and George Kittle, it was the steady stick of the NHLer who stole the show Sunday afternoon.

Mahomes, Teller and Kelce … courtesy of American Century championships media

In his ninth appearance at the ACC, Pavelski posted a 73-point finish under the modified Stableford scoring system—edging out MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz (64) and country star Jake Owen (62). Former soccer pro Taylor Twellman and Steph Curry rounded out the top five.

For Pavelski, the victory wasn’t just a golf trophy—it capped a weekend that included his birthday and wedding anniversary. “This means the world to me,” Pavelski said after sinking the final shot and lifting the crystal trophy.

And while Curry’s gallery may have been the loudest, Pavelski’s eagle was the exclamation point fans won’t forget anytime soon.

Paveliski celebrates with Caddy on 18 – Courtesy of American Century Championship

Final Top 10 Leaderboard:

  1. Joe Pavelski – 73
  2. John Smoltz – 64
  3. Jake Owen – 62
  4. Taylor Twellman – 61
  5. Stephen Curry – 58
  6. Mark Mulder – 57
  7. Annika Sorenstam – 55
  8. Tony Romo – 54
  9. Mardy Fish – 53
  10. Michael Peña – 51

Hot temps. Hotter swings. And a reminder that in Tahoe, even a hockey player can skate off with golf’s celebrity crown.