MADISON, Wis. — Despite overcast weather, the American Insurance Championship drew large crowds of golf fans as they made their way to University Ridge and watched Edgerton native Steve Stricker take home the title.
Stricker finished at 18 under par in the tournament that he hosts.
“I'll tell you what, that was a hard day," said Stricker. "I wanted to win this one right here in our own backyard. We started this tournament, we get so much fan support, player support. I've gotten in my own way over the years, but today I was kind of determined to get it done."
The American Insurance Championship is a golf tournament it is also a charity event that started in 2016 and since its inception has raised nearly $15 million.
Jim Buchheim, American Family Insurance Community and Social Impact Officer, said this championship was started in 2016 with the goal of giving back.
“Primarily the American Family Children's Hospital, fifty percent of the proceeds we generate through the tournament go towards the children’s hospital, helping it remain a world-class children's hospital,” said Buchheim.
Buchheim said the other half of the funds raised goes to nonprofits in the Madison area.
The tournament also provides a huge boost to Madison’s economy.
“The economic impact is estimated at over 15 million dollars a year at least where we are at now, over the course of the tournament, over 80 million dollars of economic impact,” said Buchheim.
For golf fans like Jason Marcell, seeing professional athletes golf on their home course is a dream come true.
“I like being able to see the pros. You like being able to see people who can do it the right way because when you are out on the course it rarely looks like this,” said Marcell.
Marcell also said it is great to see local golf legends like Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker compete in the championship.
“We love Jerry Kelly. I work for Exact Sciences, so it is awesome that he is a guy out there promoting us, promoting cancer awareness,” said Marcell.