TIM WAKEFIELD, DANE DEHAAN AND TYLER HOECHLIN TO HOST FARMINGTON BANK CELEBRITY MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT AT THE 2017 TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP
HARTFORD, Conn., June 16, 2017 – The Travelers Championship today announced that former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, along with actors Dane DeHaan and Tyler Hoechlin, will host the Farmington Bank Celebrity Mini Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 21, in the Farmington Bank Kids Zone at TPC River Highlands.
Shotgun starts will send off three-player teams at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. The two winning teams will receive $2,500 to donate to a charity of their choice. Many holes feature special twists from tournament partners such as LEGO® and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, making it more challenging for players and exciting for fans, who can view the action from sideline bleachers and a video wall.
Renee DiNino from iHeartMedia Communities will emcee for the fifth straight year, and Teryn Schaefer from PGA TOUR Live will deliver the play-by-play broadcast on the jumbotron. In addition to Wakefield, DeHaan and Hoechlin, other celebrities scheduled to participate include two-time Stanley Cup champion and Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino, WWE legend Bob Backlund, actor CJ Adams, local TV and radio personalities and UConn coaches.
“Mini golf brings a lighthearted element to tournament week that helps us connect with a wider group of celebrities and more casual golf fans,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “There will be a lot of laughs and a chance for fans to see some celebrities, but there is also money to be won for charity.”
Red Sox Hall of Fame inductee Tim Wakefield played in the major leagues for 19 years. Best known for his knuckleball, Wakefield retired in 2012 with 200 career victories, and helped the Red Sox win World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. Wakefield serves as Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation and works for NESN as a Red Sox studio analyst, in addition to his role as a celebrity spokesperson and community ambassador for Farmington Bank.
Dane DeHaan is one of Hollywood’s most sought after actors, best known for his roles in the movies “Chronicle,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Kill Your Darlings” and “Life,” in which he portrayed James Dean. This summer, he can be seen in the sci-fi blockbuster “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.” DeHaan, who is representing The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, will also be playing in the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am.
Since starring opposite Tom Hanks and Paul Newman in “Road to Perdition,” Tyler Hoechlin has built an impressive career in both film and television, starring as Superman on the CW series “Supergirl,” Derek Hale on MTV’s “Teen Wolf” and Martin Brewer on “7th Heaven.” Like DeHaan, Hoechlin will be representing The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
iHeartMedia Communities host Renee DiNino has been involved in the Celebrity Mini Golf Tournament since its inception in 2013. She is the mid-day host on The River 105.9, and is the Director of Community Affairs for iHeartMedia. DiNino will be on-site all week in the MetroHartford Alliance Fan Zone in the iHeartMedia Communities booth.
“Farmington Bank is proud to be a Founding Partner of the Travelers Championship,” said John Patrick, Farmington Bank chairman, president and CEO. “We’re pleased to provide activities throughout tournament week, including Family Day, the Kids Zone, the Mini Golf Course and Celebrity Mini Golf Tournament, which features our spokesperson, Tim Wakefield, who embodies the same values and community commitment as Farmington Bank.”
The Travelers Championship will be held June 19-25 at TPC River Highlands. This year’s player field includes Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk and defending champion Russell Knox, among others. Tickets are on sale at www.TravelersChampionship.com.
About the Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship, held in Cromwell, Connecticut, is one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR and part of the FedExCup series. The tournament proudly supports the PGA TOUR’s Tradition of Giving Back by donating 100 percent of net proceeds to charities. Travelers, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for home, auto and business, is the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR. The company became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007. Travelers has been doing business in the community for more than 160 years and has been a corporate sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952. Complete details are available at www.TravelersChampionship.com.
###
