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NFL Alumni possible succesors to Watson McCaffrey

Shauna Farnell

There are several individuals in and outside of Summit County who don’t want the Watson McCaffrey Golf Classic to disappear after this season. Organizers will know next week what the future holds for what many regard as the county’s premiere golf event.

The tournament will enter its 15th year June 13-16 at the Breckenridge Golf Club and the Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks. The event began as a one-day tournament in Breckenridge and evolved into a two-day tournament rotating from year to year between the county’s golf courses in Breck, Keystone, Silverthorne and Copper Mountain.

This will be the last time Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and former Broncos receiver Steve Watson will host the event. But it has already become apparent to organizers that an extensive search for next year’s hosts won’t be necessary.



The NFL Alumni Association approached event organizers, Moonlight Marketing, and the town of Breckenridge with interest in taking over the tournament, which, after this season’s completion, will have raised more than $1 million for the Summit Foundation and various other charities.

“It’s one of our largest (fund-raising events),” said Kim DiLallo of the Summit Foundation, which provides financial assistance to more than 100 local and neighboring nonprofit organizations. “Steve Watson has always been involved, but now that he’s working for the Broncos, his time is not as free as it used to be. This will be Ed’s third year. They both like to be really involved in the tournament and just don’t have that kind of time to put into it now.”



When the tournament premiered 15 years ago, it was the Steve Watson Golf Classic. Last season, Watson rekindled his career with the Broncos as a defensive coach, and, after next month’s Classic, he will no longer be the event’s primary host. Throughout the years, the event has drawn myriad celebrities, including John Elway, Mike Shanahan, Joe Sakic and Steve Mahre.

“It’s been a very popular event for the past 15 years,” said organizer Karen Horsch of Moonlight Marketing. “We have a strong history.”

McCaffrey also has his hands full with football and family, according to Classic organizers, and it looks as though the NFL Alumni Association will take over the tournament next season.

“They’re definitely interested,” Horsch said. “They actually came to us about it, which was flattering. At the moment, that’s what we’re concentrating on. We have a few things to work out for how it comes together, but I’ve been in touch with them and they’ve been in touch with us. We’ll probably make our announcement next week. It’s a very popular, first-class tournament, and we’ve worked really hard on it over the years. People didn’t want to see it go away, that’s why we decided to research other avenues.”


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