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Showcase growing in sixth year

by Jason Elliott Sports Writer
| July 25, 2019 1:00 AM

Six years later, The Showcase isn’t just growing.

It’s still a great time for a great cause.

The Showcase celebrity golf exhibition, in its sixth year, begins on Friday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course with a private 18-hole event with tournament sponsors and celebrities. Saturday’s final round, which begins at 8 a.m., is open to the public. Tickets are $20 and available at www.showcasegolf.com.

Unlike previous years, Saturday’s event is also an 18-hole event, with pairings determined by Friday’s round. The first group tees off at 8 a.m., with tournament leaders going off at 10.

“I think it was a popular choice to add another nine holes on Saturday,” said Jerid Keefer, an event organizer for the Community Cancer Fund. “The guys are already here and have a lot of fun with it. The chance to go with a full 18 on Saturday was really well received.”

The event raised $4 million last year, raising the total amount to $13 million in the last five years.

“I think the best part, whether it’s the sponsors that come out, or the celebrities that we’ve picked up over the years, they’re having a great time while they’re here,” Keefer said. “All the money raised stays local and helps families. It’s a lot of great people coming together and having fun. Having done this since 2014, we’ve made some really great friends out of this event and the guys love to get together. To see them annually, at the end of the day, with the local organizations that we help, it’s tough not to get excited.”

Defending champion Ray Whitney — the former Spokane Chief and San Jose Shark — is among the celebrities scheduled to return. Also scheduled to play are Wayne Gretzky, Roger Clemens, former Spokane Chief and Coeur d’Alene Laker Tyler Johnson. For a full list of celebrity participants, visit www.showcasegolf.com.

As no parking is open to the public at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, two complimentary shuttles will run from the North Idaho College Molstead Library parking lot, as well as the front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort starting at 7:15 a.m., and will run continuously throughout the day and conclude 60 minutes after completion of Saturday’s round.