Fairway to Heaven pro-am in fifth year

Cable music channel VH1's fifth annual celebrity pro-am golf tournament, Fairway to Heaven, tees off on Monday, Oct. 19, at the Las Vegas Country Club.

The world's only rock 'n' roll golf tournament, which teams celebrities from the worlds of music, television and film with top professional golfers, has quickly become a favorite pro-am event on the industry and PGA calendars.

Once again, the tournament boasts a top-notch celebrity roster, including: Edwards Burns, Chris O'Donnell, Adrian Young (No Doubt), Richie Sambora, Tico Torres and David Bryan (Bon Jovi), Alice Cooper, Branford Marsalis, Robert Wuhl, Greg Kinnear, Stephen Stills, Clarence Clemons, Little Steven Van Zandt, Dweezil Zappa, Lisa Loeb, Huey Lewis, Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Teri Hatcher, Greg Camp, Steve Harwell, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman (Smash mouth), Edwin McCain and Duncan Sheik.

Among the professional golfers participating are: Helen Alfredsson, Paul Azinger, John Daly, Chris DiMarco, Brian Henninger, Mark Lye, Michelle McGann, Steve Pate, Tom Pernice Jr., Tom Purtzer, Scott Simpson, Justin Leonard, Olin Browne, David Frost, Hay Delsing, Jimmy Johnston and Art Sellinger.

Fairway To Heaven will be headquartered at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. "Access Hollywood's" Pat O'Brien and VH1 personality Roshumba Williams will serve as on-air hosts for the event.

Pop star Paula Abdul will be VH1's roving reporter, talking with other celebrities on the course. For the third consecutive year, Prime Cable of Las Vegas will be the local cable sponsor.

At 10 a.m. Monday, the tournament will get a jump start with the "Flying Elvi" -- ten Elvis impersonators clad in white suits and black sunglasses who will jump from a plane flying at 30,000 feet, perform aero-acrobatics and land on a VH1 target on the ninth fairway.

Afterwards, the players tee off from a shotgun start in a scramble format for a full 18 holes of golf. A 90-minute highlight show will air on VH1 on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.

After the tournament, players will attend a final awards dinner and VH1 concert, featuring the group Smash mouth, at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Highlights from this year's concert will air as part of the tournament on Nov. 21.

VH1's Fairway to heaven, hosted by pro golfer Scott Simpson, is always a fund-raising event and this year's tournament donation will support The Squeeky Medlen Charitable Foundation, benefitting Leukemia research, and "VH! Save the Music."

The Squeeky Medlen Charitable Foundation was formed by Medlen's widow, Dianne. Medlen, who caddied for Nick Price, succumbed to leukemia in 1997. The purpose of the foundation is to help leukemia patients and their families with medical expenses, help fund leukemia research toward finding a cure, and to assist others in the golfing profession with medical and related expenses.

The VH1 Save the Music initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in cities across the country and by raising public awareness about the importance of music participation for our nation's youth.

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