Ex-Panther Walls scores win at Quail Hollow putting event
Former Carolina Panthers tight end Wesley Walls was the first winner of Wells Fargo Championship week at the Quail Hollow Club.
Walls won the Wells Fargo Celebrity Putting Challenge on Monday, topping a field of celebrities that included two other ex-Panthers.
Walls might have enjoyed a bit of an advantage, as he is a member at Quail Hollow and no stranger to a golf club.
Walls, who was among a field of 30 in the charity event, won $50,000 for his designated charity, the Alexander Children’s Center in Charlotte.
“I was really nervous up there, but the Alexander youth home is worth it,” said Walls, 57, who played with the Panthers in their first seven seasons, 1996-2002.
“I’m really happy to get that $50,000 check going to a great cause,” he added.
The tournament took place on Quail Hollow’s practice putting green. Miniature “trees” and other obstacles were placed on the green, and entrants competed in a nine-hole event.
Among others participating were ex-Panthers Greg Olsen and Jonathan Stewart; Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford; Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles; NASCAR driver and 2023 Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; and a host of Charlotte-area radio and television personalities.
Blowing in the wind
The Celebrity Putting Challenge entrants were the only golfers Monday who didn’t have to contend with gusty winds at Quail Hollow.
Winds gusted over 30 mph at times, and it played havoc with the field in a pro-am tournament.
The forecast is for windy conditions to continue for Tuesday’s practice rounds and Wednesday’s pro am, with gusts again over 30 mph.
The good news? Winds are forecast to die down in time for the start of Thursday’s first round in the tournament.
Players competing Monday also said the winds helped dry the course, which received more than three inches of rain over a four-day period last week.
More good news? It appears as if rain won’t be a big problem for this year’s Wells Fargo Championship. Sunny to partly cloudy skies are predicted Thursday through Sunday, and the only mention of rain is a 30 percent chance of showers Saturday.
Practice day
Most if not all of the 156 golfers in the field for this year’s tournament are expected to play practice rounds Tuesday at Quail Hollow.
The PGA says it does not announce a schedule in advance, as the players are allowed some flexibility in when they tee off.
Tee times for Wednesday’s pro am event have been announced, and fans will have to be there early to see tournament favorite Rory McIlroy tee off. His foursome is set for a 7 a.m. start on the No. 1 tee. Here are Wednesday’s tee times for pros:
Morning tee times
No. 1 tee: 7 a.m.: Rory McIlroy; 7:10: Justin Thomas; 7:20: Webb Simpson; 7:30: Cameron Young; 7:40: Adam Scott; 7:50: Harris English. 8 a.m.: K.H. Lee; 8:10: Trey Mullinax; 8:20: Davis Riley; 8:30: Shane Lowry; 8:40: Viktor Hovland; 8:50: Patrick Cantlay; 9 a.m.: Xander Schauffele. 9:15 a.m.: Wyndham Clark; 9:27: Austin Smotherman; 9:40: Chad Ramey; 9:52: Adam Schenk. 10:05 a.m.: Joel Dalmen; 10:17: Stephan Jaeger; 10:30: Russell Knox; 10:42: C.T. Pan; 10:55: Hayden Buckley. 11:07 a.m.: Mark Hubbard; 11:20: Dylan Fritelli; 11:32: Lanto Griffin; 11:45: Gary Woodland.
No. 10 tee: 7 a.m.: Sungjae Im; 7:10: Tony Finau; 7:20: Matt Fitzpatrick; 7:30: Collin Morikawa; 7:40: Sam Burns; 7:50: Corey Conners. 8 a.m.: Sahith Theegala; 8:10: Keith Mitchell; 8:20: Denny McCarthy; 8:30: J.J. Spaun; 8:40: J.T. Poston; 8:50: Sepp Straka; 9 a.m.: Max Homa. 9:15 a.m.: Alex Smalley; 9:27: Brandon Todd; 9:40: Matt Wallace; 9:52: Ryan Palmer. 10:05 a.m.: Aaron Rai; 10:17: Erik van Ronyan; 10:30: Patrick Rodgers; 10:42: Kevin Streelman; 10:55: Michael Thompson. 11:07 a.m.: Adam Svensson; 11:20: Adam Long; 11:32: Beau Hossler; 11:45: Lee Hodges.
Afternoon tee times
No. 1 tee: 12:15 p.m.: Jordan Spieth; 12:25: Rickie Fowler; 12:35: Kurt Kitayama; 12:45: Zach Johnson; 12:55: Andrew Putnam. 1:05 p.m.: Tyrrell Halton; 1:15: Emiliano Grillo; 1:25: Mackenzie Hughes; 1:35: Francesco Molinari; 1:45: Troy Merritt; 1:55: Tommy Fleetwood. 2:05 p.m.: Matt Kuchar; 2:15: Chris Kirk; 2:25: David Lipsky; 2:37: Peter Malnati; 2:50: Sam Ryder. 3:02 p.m.: Tyler Duncan; 3:15: James Hahn; 3:27: Robert Streb; 3:40: Cailum Tarren; 3:52: Max McGreevy. 4:05 p.m.: Nick Watney; 4:17: Doug Ghim; 4:30: Kevin Tway; 4:42: Matthias Schwab; 4:55: Kramer Hickok.
No. 10 tee: 12:15 p.m.: Brian Harman; 12:25: Tom Kim; 12:35: Lucas Glover; 12:45: Seamus Power; 12:55: Taylor Pendrith. 1:05 p.m.: Luke List; 1:15: Keegan Bradley; 1:25: Cam Davis; 1:35: Si Woo Kim; 1:45: Adam Hadwin; 1:55: Chez Reavie. 2:05 p.m.: Taylor Moore; 2:15: Alex Noren; 2:25: Matthew NeSmith; 2:37: Doc Redman; 2:50: Martin Laird. 3:02 p.m.: Danny Willett; 3:15: Nate Lashley; 3:27: Grayson Sigg; 3:40: Scott Piercy; 3:52: Chesson Hadley. 4:05 p.m.: Cameron Champ; 4:17: Jason Day; 4:30: Stewart Cink; 4:42: Ryan Brehm; 4:55: Patton Kizzire.
Heading to the tournament?
The $20 million Wells Fargo Championship is at the Quail Hollow Club in south Charlotte, and tickets are still available online.
Public parking is not available at the club. Fans can park at designated lots and will be taken to the tournament via shuttle bus service.
Your parking options are:
SouthPark B: Free on Tuesday. Tickets must be purchased in advance Wednesday-Sunday.
Carowinds: Wednesday-Friday. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or cash payment can be made on the day of the event.
Ballantyne Corporate Park: Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or cash payment can be made on the day of the event.
Please see tournament policies regarding items that may or may not be permitted into the tournament grounds, and to answer other questions, such as proper attire. A variety of food and beverage options are available at the tournament.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
