Sports celebs sign on for ACE

By GREG HARDWIG, gshardwig@naplesnews.com

February 9, 2005

The ACE Group Classic, Naples' Champions Tour event to be held next week, has released a list of sports legends who will be participating in the pro-ams on Wednesday and Thursday of tournament week at The Club at TwinEagles.

Former baseball players Phil Niekro, Robin Roberts and Jim Rice, former football players Charley Taylor, Jan Stenerud, Jim Hart, Bobby Mitchell, Earl Morrall, Garo Yepremian, Sonny Jurgensen and Bruce Coslet, former basketball players John Havlicek, Sam Jones, former hockey players Phil Esposito, Gerry Cheevers, Brad Park, Marcel Dionne, Rod Gilbert, Stan Mikita, and former tennis player Ivan Lendl.

Champions Tour player Tom Purtzer committed to the tournament on Tuesday. Purtzer was bothered by a back injury during the last part of the 2004 season. Still, he won one event, shooting an 11-under-60, and finished 17th on the money list. Golfers have until 5 p.m. on Friday to commit.

Local companies may participate in The Corporate Cup Challenge, a chance for 39 companies to get involved with a chance to win $13,000 for the charity of the winners' choice. For more information, contact Camp at 593-3900.

Tickets are on sale: Feb. 14, free; Feb. 15-17, $15 daily; Feb. 18-20, $20 daily; Ultimate golf package — $110, includes weekly pass and 28 rounds of golf for cart fee only from May-Oct. 15, 2005. Children age 15 and under are admitted free with ticketed adult. Call 1-877-FORE-TIX or go online to www.theacegroupclassic.com.

Tickets also are available at Alf's, Lumpy's Pro Golf Discount, Zee's Proline Golf, Pro Golf Discount, Edwin Watts, World of Golf, or J&L Golf.