The 25th Annual American Century Championship

This post was created in partnership with American Century Investments. I have received compensation for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The 25th Annual American Century Championship ran from July 15th through July 20th with a $600,000 total purse up for grabs with the first prize being $125,000, second prize $50,000 and third prize awarding $35,000. Through this championship, American Century Investments Profits for Purpose and NBC Sports have raised awareness as well as over $4 million for local and national charities.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research, part of BioMed Valley Discoveries, was selected as the 2014 national charity. The gorgeous city of Lake Tahoe, Nevada hosted the championship event this year. The tournament was a 54-hole modified Stableford format and more than 80 sports and entertainment celebrity guests were slated to appear. The course is a par 72 over 6,865 yards. Celebrity golfers, sponsors, press, and spectators experienced a brief delay on Saturday as well as a second delay on Sunday due to lightning.

A highlight of the week long event was the Tahoe South-Celebrity Am, where four amateurs are paired with a celebrity and make their way over the tough course. Each amateur is treated to an exclusive breakfast, a $250 gift bag, and admittance to the awards luncheon. They also receive a framed souvenir photo and passes to the rest of the tournament. John Elway, Brian Urlacher, and Charles Barkley were among the honored guests as well as Larry "The Cable Guy" and Bill Engvall.

Chad Pfiefer, Iraq veteran and amputee, started the last day in second place but ended in fifth. In honor of Pfiefer's efforts, American Century donated $25,000 in his name to the Troops First Foundation.

Mark Rypien, retired NFL quarterback, took home the win with 76 points. Rypien edged out Jeremy Roenick and Annika Sorestam who each tied for second with 65 points. This win is Rypien's first since the 1990 inaugural championship event. Rypien states "It was a little bit of an advantage just from that standpoint that I'm accustomed to playing in inclement weather with golf and football and then that was kind of the way it was today. It was kind of uncomfortable for everybody, but I felt fine."