ACC: Wagner hopes to defend ACC crown

STATELINE - Actor Jack Wagner and NFL quarterback Tony Romo, who finished 1-2 at last year's American Century Championship at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, are ready to battle this weekend in the annual celebrity event.

Action gets under way at 8:30 a.m. today in the 54-hole event.

Wagner, who won the tournament in 2006, is hoping to hold off Romo again.

"I just won a golf tournament," Wagner said last year after holding off Romo 80-77 last year in the event which uses the Stableford scoring system that awards graduated points for pars or better.

Wagner is one of four players who has played in all 23 years of the event.

Romo, an amateur player who is good enough to have tried to qualify for the last seven U.S. Opens, remembers the 8-iron miss on the final hole that left him short of the title.

"I just missed a key shot coming down the stretch," said Romo, who will report to Dallas Cowboys training camp next week. "But anytime I play in something, I think I can win. I've played pretty well this summer."

Romo teamed with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a practice round against NBC producer Tom Randolph and announcer Mark Rolfing.

Rodgers is trying to improve on his tie for 39th place last year.

Rodgers drove the par-4 315-yard second hole, and fell just short of reaching the par-5 third hole in two shots.

"I've been working on my game, but I have to be realistic," said Rodgers, who also will report to training camp next week in Green Bay. "I'd like to think I can be in the top 25 this week. If I can get off the tee, I'll do okay."

• NBC Sports, American Century Investments, Edgewood Companies and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority announced on Thursday that the companies will extend their partnership though 2015, bringing the Lake Tahoe community at least three more years of celebrity golf.