SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, NEV. (July 17, 2025) — The 2025 American Century Championship presented by American Century Investments wrapped yesterday with retired NHL All-Star Joe Pavelski, winning his first American Century Championship celebrity tournament Sunday at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Pavleski held off 2nd place finisher, MLB pitcher John Smoltz, and 88 other entertainment and sports stars competitors.
Additional winners in the week’s earlier practice round included Seth Curry, whose team averaged an impressiveSmash Factor score of 1.49 at the 14th hole activation sponsored by American Century Investments and beating out brother Steph Curry, who individually achieved the best Smash Factor score of 1.52. The average golfer has a 1.44 Smash Factor, according to Trackman, which tracks each player’s T-shot using cutting-edge AI technology and optically enhanced radar. This technology calculates a player’s Smash Factor—a key metric that measures swing efficiency based on the ratio of club speed and ball speed.
Team Seth Curry’s win triggered a $10,000 charitable donation to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a world-class biomedical research organization dedicated to uncovering the causes, treatments, and cures for life-threatening diseases. This 2-day activation was participated in by celebrity teams, including Aaron Rodgers, The Miz, Miles Teller, George Kittle, Trevor Lawrence, Mike Vrabel, Dylan Dreyer, and dozens more. Overall, 34 out of 49 teams achieved an average Smash Factor of 1.43 or higher, which qualified them to win a $500 charitable donation in their name. This total raised an additional $17,000 in charitable contributions. “Just as American Century is motivated by our purpose, committed to our clients, and innovating for the future, Smash For Cash is a powerful example of how purpose, commitment, and innovation can come together to create lasting impact,” explains Erik Schneberger, chief marketing officer of American Century Investments.
Off the course winner included actor Ray Romano, beating out last year’s winners, Travis and Jason Kelce, at American Century Investments’ annual and informal Saturday night karaoke contest. Romano won with his rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”. Dylan Dreyer placed second. Travis and Jason, Kelce, who won the karaoke contest in 2024, performed “Old Time Rock & Roll” and Travis dedicated his performance to Taylor Swift.
American Century Investments also named four winners among thousands of fan entries in their annual ACC Fantasy Golf. The interactive game lets fans participate in the tournament by drafting their favorite celebrity golfers from the eligible players listed at www.accfantasygolf.com. Four winners received trips for two to next year’s tournament, and the overall winner was also awarded $10,000 for a charity of their choice.
Other winners of the American Century Championship included retired MLB star Jimmy Rollins, who had a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th hole to win a new Mastercraft X24 boat, valued at $325,000:
To date, the annual American Century Championship tournament has raised over $8 million for charity with the Stowers Institute for medica research as the lead beneficiary.
Quick links:
- American Century Championship Leader Board here
- Joe Pavelski, John Smoltz, Stephen Curry photos here (Credits – Bayer Media Group)
- Downloadable Press Conference Videos here
- ACC Fantasy Golf highlights here
- “Smash for Cash” & Kelce photo selects here (Credits – David Calver, Getty Images)
About the American Century Championship
For tournament information, visit www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com
About American Century Investments
American Century Investments is a leading global asset manager focused on delivering investment results and building long-term client relationships while supporting breakthrough medical research. Founded in 1958, American Century Investments’ 1,400 employees serve financial professionals, institutions, corporations and individual investors from offices in Kansas City, Missouri; New York; Los Angeles; Santa Clara, Calif.; Portland, Oregon; London; Frankfurt, Germany; Hong Kong; and Sydney. Jonathan S. Thomas is chairman, chief executive officer and president, and Victor Zhang serves as chief investment officer. Delivering investment results to clients enables American Century Investments to distribute over 40% of its dividends to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a 500-person, nonprofit basic biomedical research organization. The Institute owns more than 40% of American Century Investments and has received dividend payments of more than $2 billion since 2000. For more information about American Century Investments, visit www.americancentury.com.
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The 2025 American Century Championship lineup is subject to change.
No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. See contest rules at www.ACCFantasyGolf.com.
