American Family Insurance Championship

The American Family Insurance Championship is a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour Champions, played at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison. The inaugural edition in June 2016 featured an 81-player field and a $2 million purse in a no-cut 54-hole event.[2]

American Family Insurance Championship
Tournament information
LocationMadison, Wisconsin
Established2016
Course(s)University Ridge Golf Course
Par72
Length7,259 yards (6,638 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$2,400,000
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate198 Steve Stricker (2023)
To par−18 as above
Current champion
South Africa Ernie Els
Location map
University Ridge GC is located in the United States
University Ridge GC
University Ridge GC
Location in the United States
University Ridge GC is located in Wisconsin
University Ridge GC
University Ridge GC
Location in Wisconsin

History

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American Family Insurance signed a three-year agreement to be the tournament's initial title sponsor. Steve Stricker served as tournament host in 2016 and then as player-host starting in 2017, when he turns fifty and is eligible to play.[3] Proceeds raised will support the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, the American Family Children's Hospital, and The First Tee of South Central Wisconsin.[4]

Kirk Triplett won the debut event in 2016 with a final round 65 (−7) for 199 (−17), two strokes ahead of runners-up Bart Bryant and Mike Goodes.[5][6] After making his only bogey of the final round at the tenth hole, Triplett birdied five of the next six, then concluded with two pars.[5][6]

In May 2023, it was announced that the championship will be held at TPC Wisconsin starting in 2025.[7]

Host

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Born in Edgerton, Wisconsin, and a Madison resident, Stricker is an American Family Insurance brand ambassador. He co-chairs the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, founded in 2013. In addition to his twelve wins on the PGA Tour, Stricker represented the United States on five Presidents Cup teams and three Ryder Cup teams, and ranked second in the world rankings in 2010. He won the Wisconsin State Open five times between 1987 and 2000.[2]

Course

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Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., University Ridge opened 33 years ago in 1991 and is home to the University of Wisconsin men's and women's golf teams. The 7,259-yard (6,638 m), par-72 course features an open front nine and a more forested back nine. It hosted the NCAA women's championships in 1998 as well as multiple Big Ten Conference championships.[8] The front nine has three par fives and three par threes.

Championship tees

Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Verona 396 4 10 Elm Valley 483 4
2 ZigZag 555 5 11 Ridgeline 569 5
3 Floodplain 242 3 12 Dropshot 200 3
4 Morse Pond 467 4 13 Halfpipe 336 4
5 Noer's View 198 3 14 Hickory Hill 398 4
6 Kettle Pond 623 5 15 Lone Elm 352 4
7 Drumlin 429 4 16 Bunkered 554 5
8 On the Rocks 207 3 17 Reflections 250 3
9 Hedgerow 587 5 18 Capitol Climb 413 4
Out 3,704 36 In 3,555 36
Source:[1]         Rating=74.9,  Slope=144 Total 7,259 72

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
2024   Ernie Els 204 −12 Playoff   Steve Stricker 2,400,000 360,000
2023   Steve Stricker 198 −18 5 strokes   Steven Alker
  Paul Broadhurst
2,400,000 360,000
2022   Thongchai Jaidee 202 −14 1 stroke   Tom Pernice Jr. 2,400,000 360,000
2021   Jerry Kelly (2) 202 −14 1 stroke   Fred Couples
  Miguel Ángel Jiménez
2,400,000 360,000
2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019   Jerry Kelly 201 −15 Playoff   Retief Goosen
  Steve Stricker
2,000,000 300,000
2018   Scott McCarron 201 −15 1 stroke   Jerry Kelly 2,000,000 300,000
2017   Fred Couples 201 −15 2 strokes   Scott Verplank 2,000,000 300,000
2016   Kirk Triplett 199 −17 2 strokes   Bart Bryant
  Mike Goodes
2,000,000 300,000

References

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  1. ^ a b "Scorecard" (PDF). University Ridge Golf Course. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "PGA Tour's Champions Tour comes to Wisconsin with American Family Insurance Championship". PGA Tour. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Baggot, Andy. "Pro golf: Steve Stricker, American Family Insurance team up to bring Champions Tour event to University Ridge in 2016". madison.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  4. ^ "Charities". amfamchampionship.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Kirk Triplett rallies with four late birdies to win at Wisconsin". ESPN. Associated Press. June 26, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "American Family Insurance Championship". ESPN. (leaderboard). June 26, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "American Family Insurance Championship moves to new course in 2025". WKOW.com.
  8. ^ "University Ridge-About Us". UniversityRidge.com. University Ridge. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
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43°01′23″N 89°32′42″W / 43.023°N 89.545°W / 43.023; -89.545