RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - A revival of a famous golf tournament that originally put Rancho Murieta on the map decades ago took place for the fifth time at the Rancho Murieta Country on Aug. 22 and 23. 

The centerpiece of the Gold Rush Classic – Where the Stars & Guitars Shine was the celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament with 22 celebrities, such as Sacramento Kings player Malik Monk, retired football star Tim Brown and retired baseball player Brian Hunt.

The two-day event also featured several other major attractions, including a celebrity draft party, a $1 million hole-in-one contest, an awards ceremony and a concert open to all residents, headlined by the country band Moonshine Crazy.

Most of the funds raised went to two life-changing charities: Jordan’s Guardian Angels and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Jordan’s Guardian Angels is a Sacramento-based foundation leading a large-scale research project to understand and treat Jordan’s Syndrome in children, a rare genetic disorder. The Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfills the wishes of critically ill children in California and Nevada.

The fundraiser benefited other area groups, including Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta, Rancho Murieta Community Church, Pleasant Grove High School golf program and 1st Tee of Sacramento.

The organizer was longtime resident John Jacobs, who tries to make the Gold Rush Classic better every year. 

“We think this is an event that Rancho Murieta can embrace and come together as a community, all while raising money for good causes,” Jacobs said. “With regard to the celebrity aspect, we think it helps Rancho Murieta to have an event like no other golf tournament in the Sacramento area.”

Jacobs recruited 22 celebrities to play in the golf tournament. All are retired, except for Malik Monk, who currently plays with the Sacramento Kings. Monk described Jacobs as a friend who recruited him to play in the tournament.

The football celebrities included Tim Brown, Greg Lloyd, Michael Merriweather and Pete Shaw. The former basketball players included Greg Ostertag, Reggie Theus and Kenny Thomas. Baseball players included Brian Hunter, Fernando Arroy, Ray Durham and Greg Vaughn, who splits his time between Sloughhouse and Las Vegas and is a Rancho Murieta Country Club member.

Jacobs said that the Golf Rush Classic wouldn’t have happened without the many generous sponsors. He specifically thanked Karen Hoberg with Rancho Murieta Homes & Land and Harrah’s Northern California. 

Jacobs couldn’t have managed the event without more than 40 volunteers. 

“All were dedicated and offered to help in more ways than originally asked,” Jacobs said. “They went above and beyond, and we hope they will all return next year.” 

A highlight of the event was the awards ceremony held after the tournament. A team led by former 49ers Superbowl Champion and All-Pro player Dwight Hooks came in first in the tournament. The other players were Kevin Stillman, Chad Wood, Brian Lee-Lauduski and Ryan Carbonetti.

Baseball player Ray Durham won the Celebrity Shootout. As for the $1 million hole-in-one contest, Rancho Murieta resident Paul Miller came closest for the fourth consecutive year, this time landing within 8 feet 8 inches of the flag.

The event culminated on Aug. 23 with a concert featuring the country band Moonshine Crazy at Lake Clementia Amphitheater. The concert, which was open to everyone in the community, drew around 400 attendees. 

“Moonshine Crazy was a pleasure to work with and they provided a great show,” Jacobs said. “We are certainly entertaining having them again next year.”

A touching moment took place just before the shotgun tournament began. Sports radio broadcaster Frank Larosa assembled the 22 celebrities on the hill across from the pro shop so they could introduce themselves and receive a briefing on the rules.

When former baseball player Greg Vaughn took the microphone, he announced that it was football player Pete Shaw’s 70th birthday and handed him a special gift: a keychain with his late son's thumbprint.

Vaughn recounted a moment from about a year ago when he and Shaw were returning to Sacramento. 

“We got the call you never want to get. His son was taken away from us,” Vaughn said. “We just want to let you know that we love you, Pete. Happy birthday.”

As the applause faded, Shaw’s wife, Kari, shared that his son had served 13 years in the U.S. Army and was found dead in his barracks, due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Kari Shaw explained that she had asked the examining doctor to take a thumbprint but wasn't sure what to do with it until she received help from Adrian Blanco Jewelry, one of the tournament sponsors. 

“Adrian was so kind. He called and said, ‘We want to do this for Pete,’” she said. “So, thank you, Christy, and thank you, Adrian, for making this happen.”