A picturesque day at the newly opened Centennial Golf Club welcomed a new era for the Chad Cota celebrity tournament Friday.

Cota was joined by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott for the tournament’s third year to form the new-and-improved Chad Cota-Ronnie Lott Celebrity Golf Shootout.

While golf was the main course for the competitors, local amateurs also had a chance to mingle and test their skills against current and former professional athletes.

"This is great," said local golfer Bret Breeze. "It’s for a very good cause.

"The course is awesome and there are some good celebrities this year."

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Proceeds from the event, which featured a dinner and auction Thursday night at Rogue Valley Country Club, go to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, area high school athletics, the Bulldog Boxing Club and All Stars Helping Kids, a program added this year that was founded by Lott in 1989.

"Last night was awesome," said Lott, a former San Francisco 49ers safety. "My golfing was OK (today), but at the end of the day this is something good for the community. It’s just a good deal."

Lott helped draw several big-name former professional athletes to an already star-studded list put together by Cota and tournament director Jim Winans.

Joining the event this year was retired wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, now an NFL analyst, former San Francisco lineman Junior Bryant and retired Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart.

Current pro athletes and former Oregon Ducks included Tampa Bay punter Josh Bidwell and USFL quarterback Tony Graziani.

Retired NFL quarterbacks Neil Lomax and Chris Miller, along with Medford resident and retired PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman and actors Gregory Harrison and Medford’s Justin Baldoni were also among the list of celebrities to participate.

Reavous Thomas, who played defensive back for Southern Oregon University, even managed to play with a cast and crutches.

"I tore my Achilles about two weeks ago," said Thomas, now a member of the Oregon Football League’s Rogue Warriors. "It’s tough (on crutches) and it gets a little tiring. It’s a long, beautiful course.

"It’s worth it. Everything behind this is for a very good cause."

Former South Medford High golfer and last year’s Southern Oregon Golf Tournament men’s regular division winner Brodie Sullivan also participated in the event last year. There he found many of the athletes engaging, especially former NFL lineman Frank Garcia, who returned for this year’s tournament.

"It’s a lot of fun," said Sullivan prior to teeing off in the afternoon round. "It’s fun talking to them about football and golf. They’re fun guys, especially Frank. He’s a great guy."

The tournament was held at Eagle Point Golf Course two years ago and at RVCC last year. This year’s event was played on Centennial because of availability.

The new course received nearly as many rave reviews as the tournament itself.

"The course is phenomenal," said Brian Johns, an Ashland resident whose daughter, Stephanie, was a standout golfer for Ashland High. "It’s really very nice.

"I don’t like the 4-foot high grass on the side," Johns added. "I’m probably going to lose a few in there."

Not even a lost ball or two, however, could put a damper on Friday’s charitable event.

"It’s a chance to play golf with a bunch of great athletes and celebrities," said Johns. "You don’t get to do that everyday."

Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail kgoff@mailtribune.com.