Vegas to play in Resort golf exhibition

COEUR d'ALENE - The Showcase has been jazzed up with a touch of Vegas.

Jhonattan Vegas, a winner on the PGA Tour in 2011, was announced Friday as the second PGA Tour member scheduled to play in the inaugural Showcase, a nine-hole celebrity golf exhibition scheduled for Aug. 18 at noon at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

Vegas, who in 2011 became the first Venezuelan to play on the PGA Tour, won the Bob Hope Classic in a playoff that year in just his fifth PGA Tour start.

Two weeks ago, he tied for third at the John Deere Classic, his best finish this season.

Vegas, 29, turned pro in 2008. In 2011, he had three top-10 finishes and earned $1,854,414, and finished 35th in the FedEx Cup standings.

He entered this week at No. 110 in the FedEx Cup standings, with season earnings of $586,803.

Spokane native Alex Prugh was announced last week as the first pro in the Showcase field.

More PGA Tour participants will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets, at $20 apiece, are available at ShowcaseGolf.com.

A preliminary list of participants scheduled to take part in The Showcase events include Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few, Eastern Washington men's basketball coach Jim Hayford, Boise State men's basketball coach Leon Rice, Super Bowl MVP and recent winner of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Mark Rypien, Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre, Oregon State men's basketball coach Wayne Tinkle, Idaho men's basketball coach Don Verlin, former NBA players Dan Dickau and Craig Ehlo, and ESPN broadcasters Neil Everett, Sean McDonough and Fran Fraschilla.

Proceeds from the Showcase benefit the Community Cancer Fund, a local non-profit dedicated to aide the fight against cancer in the Inland Northwest, as well as The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

As part of The Showcase festivities, a celebrity-amateur golf tournament and dinner and auction are also being held on Aug. 17 for individual and corporate sponsors. Event sponsorships are still available.

Information: www.showcasegolf.com