Vinny Del Negro couldn’t hold back tears after winning the American Century Championship.Del Negro lost his father Wednesday, two days before the former NBA head coach took to the course to start the three round modified Stableford event.“I thought of him the whole time,” said Del Negro, “every fairway, every shot. What he would tell me: Toughen up. Hit the shot. You're either good enough or not. Just hit it and I stuck to my game plan." Del Negro, who most recently coached for the Clippers in 2013, birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff against John Smoltz. Smoltz put his third shot of the first playoff hole into the water and Del Negro once again found his way to a birdie on 18 to win the event with 69 points. It was the fourth playoff in the event’s 32-year history. Last year’s winner, Mardy Fish, took seventh with 58 points. Tony Romo and Annika Sorenstam were third and fourth with respective scores of 66 and 64. Golden State Warrior point guard Stephen Curry took ninth with 56 points. Barkley fails to convert on self-wager Charles Barkley came into this year’s ACC tournament with an improved swing. Even with the improvements to his game, the William Hill odds still had the 2006 NBA Hall of Fame Inductee as a +1500 to break the top-70 in a field of 87 golfers. The odds swung more in Barkley’s favor as the event neared, but Barkley doubled down, wagering $100,000 on himself at +500. However, the NBA’s 1993 Most Valuable Player finished 76th.
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