Jimmer Fredette to join American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe

NEWS RELEASE — Jimmer Fredette, the All-American scoring guard for Brigham Young University will join the celebrity-studded field at the American Century Championship, July 12 – 17 at Edgewood Tahoe, in what is becoming one of the strongest line-ups in the tournament’s 22-year history.

Fredette led the nation in scoring during the 2011 NCAA basketball season and was the recipient of the Oscar Robertson Trophy from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as National Player of the Year. He set a school record for season points in 2011 with 1,068. Fredette was also named to the Associated Press All-America first team, BYU’s first player to receive such honors since Danny Ainge in 1981. There will undoubtedly be a buzz in the air about Fredette’s blossoming professional basketball career at this year’s tournament on the heels of the NBA Draft, June 23.

Over 80 sports and entertainment superstars will converge at Edgewood Tahoe with other newcomers including Rex Ryan, the volatile, quotable New York Jets head coach; Martin Brodeur, NHL All Star of the New Jersey Devils; Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets All-Star guard; former Major League All-Stars Goose Gossage of the Yankees and Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves; actors Tim Matheson of Animal House fame, and Rob Morrow of television dramas Numb3rs and Northern Exposure. Returning superstars include Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Jerry Rice.

Defending champion and former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver will see stiff competition from last year’s second place finishers: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback; John Smoltz, former Atlanta Braves All-Star; John Elway, NFL Hall of Famer who has played in all 21 previous tournaments; and Jack Wagner, actor and past champion. There’s also eight-time winner Rick Rhoden and four-time champion Dan Quinn.

The American Century Championship will award $600,000 in prize money, with the winner receiving $125,000. Scoring is based on a modified Stableford format with 10 points for a double eagle, 8 for a hole-in-one, 6 for eagle,3 for birdie, 1 for par, 0 for bogey, and minus 2 for double-bogey or higher.The 54-hole tournament has been played at Edgewood Tahoe’s 6,707-yard lakeside course since its inception in 1990.

Tournament title sponsor American Century Investments, is a leading, privately-controlled investment management firm serving professionals, institutions, corporations and individuals. Through its ownership structure, more than 40 percent of company profits support research to help find cures for genetically-based diseases including cancer, diabetes and dementia.

For the sixth consecutive year, the American Century Championship is proud to be supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the organization established in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action. The foundation is now known publicly by its powerful brand — LIVESTRONG — and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Since the tournament’s inception in 1990, more than $3 million has been raised for a variety of national and local charities.

NBC Sports and Versus will televise the tournament live on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as follows:

Friday, July 15: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. PT (live) on Versus

Saturday, July 16: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT (live) on NBC

Sunday, July 17: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT (live) on NBC

Friday coverage will be re-broadcast Saturday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. PT on the Golf Channel.

Tickets are available for advance purchase online and daily at the gate. Prices are $15 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, July 12, the practice round on Wednesday, July 13, and for the American Century Celebrity-Amateur on Thursday, July 14; and $25 for each tournament round, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A Season Pass for $60 provides admission for all six days of the event. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Discounted tickets for tournament rounds Friday through Sunday will be available starting June 1 at participating Raley’s, Nob Hill and Bel Air Foods supermarkets.

For tournament tickets, information and lodging packages:www.TahoeSouth.com.

Learn more: www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com.

The American Century Championship is also on Facebook and Twitter. For the latest details on the tournament, celebrity tweets, fan contests and more, click here to join the fun and stay in touch between now and tournament time.