Reflector Article
June 2000
Glenda Jakubowski

Amy Grant and Vince Gill golfed through oppressive heat and signed autographs for anyone who asked.

Playing in the first round of the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Classic, the newlywed entertainers pleased everyone in the gallery.

At every turn, they gave themselves to the crowd.

"Amy's even more open than I am," said Gill. "She's the most gracious woman I've ever met."

On Saturday, that meant being gracious to about 4,000 people who endured a 98-degree heat index to watch the golf classic in its 16th year. Half of the tournament's celebrity field played, including Dallas Stars' hockey great Brett Hull and L.A. Ram Marshall Faulk, who subbed for heavyweight fighter Evander Holyfield.

Even more spectators are expected at Brook Valley Country Club today as Jordan himself takes his turn with 24 other stars, said tournament chairman Bill Freelove.

National Weather Service forecasters predict a high of 90 degrees with partly cloudy skies for today's activity. A 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms exists in the afternoon.

Saturday's event started with a brief press conference featuring Jordan, who accepted a $100,000 check from Linton Arrowood of Alltel for the tournament's charity, the North Carolina Ronald McDonald Houses.

Jordan was accompanied by the tournament's honorary child, 13-year-old Aaron Scott. His family is staying at the Winston-Salem house while he undergoes treatment for bone cancer.

"He's a little nervous, and he had a late night last night," Jordan said. Aaron was teamed with Jordan on Friday evening during a bowling party.

Jordan said he stays personally involved with organizers throughout the year. "We have meetings about how we can better this tournament," he said.

Sometimes the discussions involved moving the venue of the tournament to make it a bigger event, Jordan said.

"We always come to the agreement that Greenville's where we started. We don't want to take it away from here," he said.

Then Jordan opened the tournament. "Let's go play golf," he said.

Grant and Gill played with Parker Overton of Overton's Sports Center, Marion Kent of Sprint and Ron Hinson of S&D Coffee, among dozens of sponsors of the event.

The celebrity couple didn't have their best golf games, hitting into sand traps, woods, a water hazard, and in Gill's case, within a foot or two of some Port-A-Johns nearby.

Although the couple expressed unhappiness at the flubbed shots with the occasional grunt of disgust - "Oh, shoot," cried Grant at one point, jumping up and down on the course - they consistently charmed fans.

"I know it's really really hot, Vince, but could you smile for me?" asked a woman with a poised camera.

"Yeah," Gill said, and mugged an exaggerated smile.

On the 13th hole Gill turned his ankle in a depression on the course, crying out in pain.

"That's the second time this week I've hurt my ankle in a hole on a golf course," Gill said.

As he walked gingerly to the golf cart after the accident, a fan asked for his autograph.

"Alrighty," Gill said and obliged.

At every tee box groups of fans ranging from four or five to more than 50 waited for Grant and Gill. Each time the couple waited before proceeding to the next hole until every autograph was signed and every picture snapped.

"Mind if I get your picture?" one fan asked.

"No, I don't mind," Gill said. "You have to develop it and look at it."

Another fan tells Grant, "I remember you as my senior song in '93."

Throughout nearly seven grueling hours in the scorching sun, Gill and Grant turned from their personal frustrations on the golf course to greet each fan with a smile and a thank you.

"My kids brought autograph books with them," Grant said when asked if the constant signing and posing and hugging of strangers ever got tiresome.

"Every time I look at someone who wants an autograph, I think of my kids - what if it were them?"

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