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Golfweek launches inaugural Tech Lab event

Golfweek has announced a new, first-of-its-kind event in the golf industry, coming March 2024.

Golfweek has announced a new, first-of-its-kind event in the golf industry, coming March 2024. In a joint venture with underdog venture team, the USA Today Sports Media Group property is launching Golfweek Tech Lab, an event that will unite stakeholders in the investment and golf communities with a curated group of technology startups that can enhance both the game and business of golf.

The inaugural Tech Lab will be held in Frisco, Texas, on March 20-21, in collaboration with Omni Hotels and at the home of the PGA of America. The event will feature more than 20 emerging companies that aim to impact the business of golf, as well as panelists, and keynote speakers that are investing in the sport. Golfweek has partnered with underdog to identify the best-in-class companies that will participate, as well as leverage their event expertise to produce the event.

“We’re thrilled to launch this joint venture with our partners at Golfweek and USA Today Sports Media,” said underdog co-founder Dan Mannix. “Tech Lab will be a major hub for innovation in the golf industry, and we’re excited to bring our network and experience in working with sports technology startups and event production to Frisco this spring.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to gather thought leaders in the golf space and get a glimpse into the future of business in and around the sport,” said Nate Scott, VP and Publisher of USA Today Sports Media Group. “We’re excited to partner with underdog and our hosts at the Omni in Frisco to make this a special event.”

Tickets are on sale now.

About Golfweek

A property of USA Today Sports Media Group, Golfweek is recognized as the most authentic, authoritative and independent voice in golf. It features award-winning journalists comprehensively covering breaking news, Tour competition, lifestyle features and every other aspect of the golf arena. In addition to legendary print editions, digital properties reach 65% of U.S. golfers, including nearly six million avid golfers, 21 million golf fans and 29 million golf enthusiasts. Golf content is also syndicated across 260 publications in the USA Today network. The Golfweek brand encompasses Golfweek magazine, Golfweek.com, Golfweek Events and Golfweek Custom Media.

About underdog venture team

underdog venture team is a team of passionate people who build brands and create value, with a social impact model at the core of all we do. As a next-generation agency, underdog provides an integrated mix of Brand Building services, and also invests in and partners with Ahead-of-the-Trend startups in the industries they know and believe in. Visit underdogteam.com for more information

Three Player of the Year titles up for grabs at 2023 Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions

Player of the Year honors are up for grabs.

The best senior amateurs in the United States have descended upon The Forest Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, for the 2023 Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions.

Three of the four age brackets are duking it out not just for the Tournament of Champions title, but for Golfweek Player of the Year honors, too. Alabama’s George Walker ran away with the Legends (ages 70-74) PoY title, clearing the field by nearly 3,000 points for the season.

With three PoY titles up for grabs, every shot matters just that much more this week.

Seniors (55-64)

Florida’s John Barry paces the senior field after 18 holes of play with an opening salvo of even-par 72.

Sitting at 2 under through five, Berry bogeyed five of his next eight holes to fall to 3 over. Locking back in, Barry closed his round strongly with birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 18 to take a one-shot lead into Wednesday’s second round.

Four players are tied at 1 over while last year’s ToC winner, Ken Kinkopf lurks in solo sixth place at 2 over.

Third-ranked Kevin VandenBerg can pull off a massive comeback, as both No. 1 Bob Royak and No. 2 Jon Lindstrom are not in the field this week. With 800 points separating VandenBerg from the top spot, he needs a win to take a 300-point lead. A second-place finish would put him about 50 points off Royak with one point event remaining on the calendar.

No matter what happens this week, Lindstrom and VandenBerg both have an opportunity to take the top spot, as they are teeing it up next week at the Society of Seniors Ralph Bogart Tournament in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Currently tied for 27th, VandenBerg has a hill to climb, but with tough scoring conditions making the Jack Nicklaus-design playing even harder than normal, VandenBerg’s consistency can easily help catapult himself back into condition.

Super Seniors (65-69)

Fifth-ranked Greg Goode had a consistent day, as he took a one-shot lead into moving day. He closed out an even-par round with birdies on Nos. 14 and 17. Navigating the chilly and breezy conditions, he sets out to fend off Golfweek No. 2 Steve Humphrey (+1), No. 3 James Starnes (+2) and No. 7 Mike Arter (+2).

A win for Humphrey or Starnes would allow them to slide by No. 1 Marcus Beck for Player of the Year honors. A win would also make two Senior Tournament of Champions wins for Humphrey, who took the title last year at PGA National.

Legends (70-74)

North Carolina’s Pete Allen enjoys the largest lead among the four age divisions, commanding a three-shot lead following an opening round 2-over 74.

Allen peppered his card with four birdies, showing promise as the event turns to the final 36 holes.

Paul Schlachter (5 over) and John Osborne (6 over) round out the podium.

Super Legends (75+)

Texas’ Gary Hardin matched his age with a first-round 75. He holds a one-shot lead over No. 6 Super Legend, Jack Marin. Top-ranked Johnny Blank is tied for eighth while No. 2 Bill Engel is one shot behind Blank at 11 over.

With 505 points separating the two, plenty of golf is left before we crown a Player of the Year.

What to expect at the Grand Canyon’s 15th annual Celebration of Art

Celebrate art at the Grand Canyon.

Artists have been trying to capture the Grand Canyon on canvas for more than a century. Contemporary artists carry on the tradition, especially during the annual Celebration of Art. Its 15th year kicks off September 1 with a silent auction. The main event is a week of “en plein air” (outside on location) painting, where 24 artists will be working at the canyon’s South Rim.

Not only is it fun for visitors to see artists painting the canyon in real-time, but the event is also an important fundraiser for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the canyon’s official nonprofit partner. The conservancy funds historic building preservation, trail maintenance, educational programs, and wildlife protection projects.

Look forward to these five events at this year’s Celebration of Art.

Important dates to know for Packers leading up to Week 1

All the important dates and events to know between now and Week 1 for the 2023 Green Bay Packers.

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The Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2023 season with a trip to Chicago to play the rival Bears at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10.

A lot will happen between now and then.

Here’s a full schedule for the Packers leading up to Week 1:

Friday, July 21: Rookies, quarterbacks, injured players report for training camp
Monday, July 24: Annual shareholders meeting (11:00 a.m.)
Tuesday, July 25: Veterans report for training camp
Wednesday, July 26: First training camp practice
Saturday, July 29: Open training camp practice
Monday, July 31: Open training camp practice
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Open training camp practice
Thursday, Aug. 3: Open training camp practice
Thursday, Aug. 3: Hall of Fame Game (Jets vs. Browns)
Saturday, Aug. 5: Packers Family Night (7:30 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 7: Open training camp practice
Wednesday, Aug. 9: Joint practice with Bengals
Friday, Aug. 11: Preseason game at Bengals (6:00 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 14: Open training camp practice
Wednesday, Aug. 16: Joint practice with Patriots
Thursday, Aug. 17: Joint practice with Patriots
Saturday, Aug. 19: Preseason game vs. Patriots (7:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, Aug. 22: Open training camp practice
Wednesday, Aug. 23: Final open training camp practice
Saturday, Aug. 26: Presesaon game vs. Seahawks
Wednesday, Aug. 29: Roster must be reduced to 53 players
Thursdaay, Aug. 30: Practice squad construction begins
Thursday, Aug. 30: Claiming period for players cut
Sunday, Sept. 3: Final day of training camp for all teams
Wednesday, Sept. 6: First injury report for Week 1
Friday, Sept. 8: Final injury report for Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 10: Week 1 at Bears (3:25 p.m.)

Nonbinary cyclist Abi Robins helps change the world of gravel biking

Cycling for all.

Abi Robins is a pioneer in the gravel biking world. They were the first person to race in the nonbinary category of Unbound Gravel, a Kansas-based bike event. Robins also founded Queer Gravel, an organization helping to make the gravel biking world friendlier to queer and trans people through meetups, clinics, group rides, advocacy, and mutual aid.

In 2021, Unbound created its nonbinary category in response to anti-trans legislation throughout the United States. That year, Robins was the only one to show up for it. In 2022, 17 nonbinary riders competed. As biking events move toward inclusivity, Robins hopes more queer cyclists will feel welcomed.

Feeling safe in the gravel biking world

“As a non-binary person, I want to show up at events where I feel safe and welcomed and like I can show up as my full self,” Robins said in an interview with Yuri Hauswald, GU Energy Labs’s elite athlete manager.

For event planners, building an inclusive space means having resources like gender-neutral porta-potties and trans-friendly medical care nearby. Robins appreciates that event producers like Life Time are working to include more athletes but stresses that welcoming attitudes must start earlier in an athlete’s path.

“I feel like at this point, it’s time for the rest of the industry to step up and start pulling their weight when it comes to trans and non-binary inclusion in cycling,” Robins said. “There are so many other touch points that a cyclist has to go through before they’re ready for an event, especially an event as large and intimidating as Unbound.” This includes feeling safe enough at their local cycling shop to get involved in the sport in the first place.

While event organizers are trying to welcome diverse audiences, some cyclists remain leery of racing in certain states. “These major events, they’re happening in states that politically lean in a way that can be really hostile towards these marginalized groups,” Robins said. “And these events happen on back roads even in what we might call quote unquote safe states. You get out into rural areas and generally those lean more red politically and again, I try not to overgeneralize, but those are areas that are generally more hostile to trans folks and to people of color. I know that’s not always the case, but it’s the case often enough and that it can make it scary.”

Changing the world

Despite the challenges, Robins believes gravel riding can help change the world. “I’ve experienced firsthand the power of spending time on a bike with someone you don’t know and how equalizing and connective it can be,” they said. “I try not to overstate it, but I do really feel like Gravel is one of the places where we have the ability to make a powerful and positive social impact that’s not just about cycling, but is about the country and the world.”

Gary Albrecht leads 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship

It’s one of the deepest fields in all of senior amateur golf.

The 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship has become a battle in the desert.

Gary Albrecht takes a two-shot lead into the final round at Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, following a 4 under 68 on Monday. The California native carded just one bogey on the day to leapfrog 18-hole leader, Robert Funk, to take the 36-hole lead.

Funk was able to work off an early-round double bogey, closing his scoring with a birdie on No. 17 to get himself back to even on the day and remain 1 under for the tournament. He and Joe Palmer sit at 1 under and lead a pack of players well within striking range.

Mark Lindberg and Leonard Komar are both 1 over and coming off of sub-par rounds Monday. Three more players are in a tie for sixth, just five shots off the lead.

As one of the deepest fields in all of senior amateur golf, the tournament is living up to its billing. Six players, including 2021 U.S. Senior low amateur Billy Mitchell, are just 3 over and six shots back. With such an elite field, the championship is still anyone’s ball game.

For 2022 Golfweek Challenge Cup captain Craig Hurlbert, the week comes to an abrupt end with a WD. Other notables: Jerry Gunthorpe (T17), Craig Larson (T17), Kevin VandenBerg (T29) and Vance Welch (T39).

If you want to tee it up with the best senior amateurs in the game, check out the Golfweek senior amateur schedule here.

Mike Finster, Gene Bingman go wire-to-wire at Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic

The 2023 season started in a dominant fashion for Mike Finster.

The 2023 season started in a dominant fashion for Mike Finster. The Florida native kicked off the 2023 Golfweek senior slate with a wire-to-wire victory at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club.

Rebounding from his 1 over second-round performance, Finster closed the championship out with an even-par final round. Finster had a hot hand on the front nine with four birdies sandwiching a double bogey on the par-4 sixth.

Rusty Strawn, the defending Golfweek Player of the Year and U.S. Senior Amateur champion, began the day four shots back of Finster and was a part of the final group set on chasing down the 36-hole leader. Strawn was able to muster three birdies on the front nine but made the turn at 1 under and six shots back of Finster.

As the final group plodded their way through the final nine, Strawn was unable to capitalize on Finster’s two back-nine bogeys, finishing the tournament three back of the leader at 3 over.

Finster’s play was strong all week, as he navigated tough and uncommon Florida conditions en route to his 54-hole, even-par total. He was the only player in the field, regardless of age bracket, to have two rounds at par or better.

In the Super Senior division, it was Steve Humphrey taking the crown. Holding a share of the 36-hole lead with Mike Poe, Humphrey left no doubt on Wednesday.

Making the turn at even par, Humphrey stayed out of trouble while those around the top of the leaderboard faltered left and right. As his opponents struggled, Humphrey tacked on two birdies down the stretch to cap off a 10-shot victory and the lowest round of the week.

While the Super Senior division was decided rather easily, the Legends needed all 54 holes to declare a winner.

Don Donatoni, the 36-hole leader and the 2022 Legend Player of the Year, set out to keep his outstanding form going into the 2023 calendar year. Looking to contest was Arkansas’ Bev Hargraves, who paced the Legends after Monday’s first round and trailed Donatoni by three strokes heading into Wednesday’s final round alongside Don Russell.

Russell bowed out of the fight following a double bogey on the par-4 15th, leaving way for Donatoni and Hargraves.

Three shots behind Donatoni with just four holes left, Hargraves birdied Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to tie Donatoni for the lead at 10-over par.

With both men needing to catch a flight, the pair decided to share medalist honors. With the act of sportsmanship, the pair were awarded 1,000 player of the year points each and split the first place purse of $900.

In the 75+ year old Super Legends division, Gene Bingman matched Finster’s dominant play, also going wire-to-wire in his win. Rounds of 80, 82 and 78 was enough to keep Jack Marin and Gil Stenholm well away from the lead, as Bingman coasted to a five-shot victory.

The next Golfweek senior event is the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship, slated for March 26-28 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. To register, click here.

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2023 Senior Amateur season tees off in Tampa at Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic

The quest for Player of the Year honors commenced Monday at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club in Florida.

The 2023 Golfweek senior amateur season is officially underway.

The quest for Player of the Year honors commenced Monday at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida. But first, let’s take a moment to honor the four men who earned Player of the Year honors in 2022.

Senior division player of the year Rusty Strawn had a fantastic 2022. The Georgia native began his year with a win at the Florida Senior Azalea in March. Picking up another win at the Senior Trans-Miss, Strawn took down fellow Georgian Doug Hanzel in the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Not done yet, Strawn followed the USGA major victory with a win North of the border, winning the Canadian Senior Amateur a week later. Capping off his 2022 season with a winning captaincy at the Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup, Strawn ran away with Player of the Year in the senior division.

Super Senior Marc Fried, like Strawn, had a dominant 2022. Starting his season with three straight top-five finishes, Fried built momentum towards a winning effort at the U.S. Super Senior National Championship. Per AmateurGolf.com, Fried’s worst finish on the year was T-18 in 17 starts.

Pennsylvania native Don Donatoni nabbed Legend player of the year honors thanks in part to a win at the Super-Senior Amateur. Playing strongly throughout the year at Golfweek events, the 74 -year-old was able to secure the top spot at year’s end.

After a season that included a win at the Golfweek Senior National Invitational, John Blank earned the Super Legend player of the year honor.

With all four age division winners and 2022 Yancey Ford Award winner Joe Pavoni, all honored on Monday, the 2023 race for Player of the Year is officially underway.

Mike Finster leads the senior division through round 1. The Florida native carded the lone under-par score of the day with a 1 under 71. Georgia’s Danny Nelson lurks two shots back at 1 over while Rusty Strawn is in a two-way tie for third after posting an opening 74.

In the Super Senior division, it’s Marcus Beck holding a two-shot lead at 3 over. An even par front nine was marred by a lone double bogey on the par-5 15th. Mike Poe and Steve Humphrey matched each other with 77s to finish the day two back of Beck.

Arkansas’s Bev Hargraves impresses with an opening 4 over 76. With 36 holes left to play, Hargreaves will have to be weary as Don Donatoni trails by just one shot.

In the 75+ age bracket, Gene Bingman commands an early lead. The super legend carded an 8 over 80 to take a one shot lead over Gil Stenholm.

Round two of the Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic continues on Tuesday. For more information on how to play Golfweek events, click here.

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Craig Steinberg among four winners at the 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown

Four champions were crowned after a 54-hole shootout in the desert.

Four champions were crowned after a 54-hole shootout in the desert at Casino Del Sol’s Sewailo Course in Tucson, Arizona.

In the senior division, the final round began as a two-man race. Thirty-six-hole leaders Mike Lohner and David Nelson were tied at 1 under. Neither would finish under par once Friday’s final round came to a conclusion.

Instead, it was Craig Steinberg and Steve McPherson who would duke it out. McPherson held the head-to-head advantage, beginning the day at 1 over to Steinberg’s 2 over.

McPherson was bogey free and 6 under on the day through 14 holes. Carding his first bogey on the par-3 15th, he immediately erased it with another birdie on the par-4 16th. Holding the solo lead as he stood on the 18th tee, all the Hemet, California, native needed was a par to secure the clubhouse lead and potentially the championship.

Making bogey, McPherson played the waiting game, as he held on to second place, one shot back of Steinberg, who was still on the course.

Steinberg used an electric front nine to catapult himself into the conversation. Out in 31, Steinberg used the bogey-free start to slide up the leaderboard.

2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown Champion, Craig Steinberg

Another flurry of birdies on Nos. 14-16, he was in control and clear of McPherson by a stroke. An untimely bogey on No. 17, his second of the day, Steinberg was unable to negate it with a birdie on No. 18 for the win. Signing for a final round 6-under 66, Steinberg headed back to the 18th tee for a sudden death playoff with McPherson.

As the hotter hand, Steinberg was able to secure the title on the first playoff hole with a par.

Rounding out the top five, all at even par, were Terry Rice, Mike Lohner and Golfweek’s No. 2 ranked senior amateur, Kevin VandenBerg. VandenBerg was not able to grab all 1,200 points, but he was able to take a bite out of Rusty Strawn’s 1,930-point lead, as VandenBerg was awarded 543.33 points for his top-five finish.

In the Super Senior division, Robin Rubrecht cruised to a five-shot victory, thanks in large part to his tournament-best 7-under 65 in the second round. Jim Starnes took second at 2 under.

John Hamilton outlasted the competition to take a two-shot victory back to Stillwater, New York. Steve Wilson was able to shoot his age or better all three days to take the top spot in the 75+ age division. Rounds of 71, 76 and 75 secured a four-shot victory.

If you think you have what it takes to compete with some of the best senior amateur players in the country, check out the 2023 Golfweek senior amateur schedule to put your game up to the test on some of the best courses around the country.

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Day 2 of the Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown makes way for dramatic final round

Chilly temperatures and gusty winds kept scoring to a minimum during the second round of the Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown.

Chilly temperatures and gusty winds kept scoring to a minimum during the second round of the Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown. Taking place at the University of Arizona’s home course – the Sawailo Course at Casino Del Sol — Tucson wasn’t the desert paradise most expect when wintering there.

The lone exception to the lack of scoring was Super Senior Robin Rubrecht. The Indiana native was not phased a bit by the adverse desert conditions en route to carding a second-round 7-under 65. Bogey free on the day, Rubrecht catapulted himself into the lead and now holds a five-shot advantage as he heads into the final round. Not only that, but Rubrecht’s score is the lowest of the tournament so far.

Jim Starnes was the only other super senior to come in under par and is 1 under for the tournament.

In the Senior Division, plenty of movement was seen on the leaderboard. First-round leader Terry Cook slid all the way down to a tie for 12th following a second-round 83. Unable to replicate his first-round success, Cook looks to backdoor himself back into the top 10.

Atop the senior leaderboard is the duo of Mike Lohner and David Nelson. Lohner was able to ride the waves to card an even-par 72 to remain at 1 under for the tournament. For Nelson, he was able to move up the leaderboard despite going backward.

Nelson was 1 under for the tournament until he carded a double bogey on his last hole to slide into a tie for first alongside Lohner. The pair will have plenty of competition hot on their heels with four players within two shots of the lead. Another five players lurk within five strokes.

Among those looking to chase down the lead is Golfweek’s No. 2 ranked Kevin VandenBerg.

VandenBerg is looking to chase down not only Lohner and Nelson, but Rusty Strawn. Strawn is not in the field this week but is ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek Player of the Year rankings. With Strawn idle, VandenBerg can make a dent in the 1,930-point difference between him and Strawn.

In the Legends division, New York’s John Hamilton holds a two-stroke lead over Texas’ Bruce Meyer. In the Super Legends division, it looks as though it will come down to Oklahoma’s Craig Collins and California’s Steve Wilson. Both tied at 3 over, the pair of 75+-year-olds have matched each other shot for shot all week long. Should one of them slip, Chicago’s Gil Stenholm is hanging in the fight at 6 over par.

In total four champions will be crowned tomorrow as we inch closer to the end of the Golfweek Player of the Year race. If you want to put your hat in the ring for next year’s race, check out the 2023 schedule here.