Cologuard Classic embraces March Madness, clocks record-setting temperatures

The initial temperature for the opening round of the Cologuard Classic, Tucson's PGA Tour Champions event at La Paloma Country Club, on Friday was 85 degrees. The high on Friday, the day after Tucson exceeded 100 for the first time this year, was 102. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning. 

The weather was so hot, one of the PGA Tour video cameras overheated and shut down just before noon on Friday. 

The warm weather is a stark contrast to previous years. 

Before this year, the warmest on-record temperature for the Cologuard Classic was 82 degrees in 2019. In the last Cologuard Classic at Omni Tucson National in 2023, the opening round had snow on the course. 

The average high for the Cologuard Classic is 74. The average high this week is 99. Last year, the temperature of the opening round of the Cologuard Classic was 55. 

Cologuard ambassador and tournament host Jerry Kelly, who's been the Cologuard Classic runner-up twice, said the weather feels like a "60-degree difference" between last year and this year. 

"I think we would all take this over that," Kelly said. "This is difficult, as well. We've got carts, it will be all right."

Golf Madness

Golf? Basketball? How about both?

The Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences is offering golf fans and Arizona basketball fans the opportunity to enjoy both simultaneously. 

Just behind the 18th green in the general area of the tournament, La Paloma Country Club set up a 7-foot-tall and 12-foot-wide video board with chairs and tables for patrons to watch the NCAA Tournament. 

The suites between holes 15-18 also had TVs showing the Arizona-Long Island game, among other games, on Friday. The Cologuard Classic is showing top-seeded Arizona's second-round matchup with ninth-seeded Utah State in San Diego on Sunday. 

Johnson settling into next chapter

Four PGA Tour Champions rookies are playing in their first Cologuard Classic — and one of them is familiar with playing in Tucson. 

Zach Johnson is playing in his first PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament in Tucson since WGC-Accenture Match Play was at The Gallery Golf Club and Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Dove Mountain from 2007-14. The 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play had a snow delay that canceled the opening round of the tournament.  

Johnson, who recently turned 50 years old, won his first PGA Tour Champions tournament, the James Hardie Pro Football HOF Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida, after shooting 11 under. 

Johnson — the 2007 Masters Tournament champion and 12-time PGA Tour winner — spoke to reporters at the Cologuard Classic. Here are the most interesting items he discussed: 

What did you learn after your first PGA Tour Champions victory?

A: "I learned that I can compete out here, that's for certain. I learned that the golf courses do still have teeth. It's not like I didn't expect that. You've still got to show up and compete and play and work. 

"What else have I learned? I learned that whatever systems I have in place, because I'm very process-oriented, I'm very much systematic in how I go about my work in all aspects, elements of it on and off the course, the physio, the technical, the mental, spiritual, all that good stuff, those systems I have in place are, I'm not going to say that they can't be refined still, but they are efficient and I'm grateful for that."

Did you expect to win your first event?

A: "I didn't have any expectations on that. I just wanted to go out, get comfortable and compete. I mean, I guess the short answer would be no, but I really didn't put anything on myself from an outcome standpoint. It was more let's get acclimated, let's get our feet underneath us and try to find some sort of rhythm to the week."

What did the win in your PGA Tour Champions debut mean to you? How does it set up the next chapter of your career?

A: "I think it just highlights and probably lifts up the fact that I've got great systems in place. Whether you're talking about the elements of the game both on and off the golf course or the people I'm associated with, that's what it highlighted. I've still got a great ensemble of teammates, coaches, partnerships that allow me to have the freedom to go play. I know that sounds very generic, but it does. I don't take any week for granted. I'm just grateful to have the opportunity."

Faces in the crowd

The Cologuard Classic had over 400 attendees who have been affected by colorectal cancer — survivors, caregivers and family members representing perished loved ones. The 400-plus guests of honor trekked from 38 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Canada and England.

One of the guests was Simone Ledward-Boseman, the widow of late actor Chadwick Boseman, who died from colorectal cancer at 43 years old in 2020. 

Ledward-Boseman kicked off the tournament by singing the national anthem just left of the 18th green at La Paloma Country Club, which preceded a flyover with four A-10 jets from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and five paratroopers parachuting in. Joel Theriot, a retired Army Special Forces soldier with over 4,900 jumps, parachuted in with the U.S. flag. 

Renowned journalist Katie Couric is also in Tucson this week as a Cologuard ambassador. 

Several members of the Arizona Wildcats football staff participated in the Pro-Am in the days leading up to the Cologuard Classic, including head coach Brent Brennan, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, offensive coordinator Seth Doege, wide receivers coach Bobby Wade and general manager Aaron Knotts. Former UA kicker and social media influencer Cash Peterman played alongside Gonzales and PGA Tour Champions golfer Kirk Triplett. 

Former UA adaptive golfers Amanda Cunha and Bailey Bish, who both won the U.S. Adaptive Open, were in Ben Crane's group.   

Former U.S. women's national soccer team superstars Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, who both led the U.S. to World Cup championships, played in the Pro-Am. Wambach was paired up with Billy Andrade, and Foudy played in the group with Joe Durant, who won the Cologuard Classic in 2024, the first year it was held at La Paloma Country Club.   

By the numbers

- 9: Bo Van Pelt's score after the first round of the Cologuard Classic, which is a record for an opening round of the tournament since it moved to La Paloma Country Club. Van Pelt, a PGA Tour Champions rookie, is playing in his first Cologuard Classic — his first event at La Paloma Country Club since he was a high schooler competing at the Rolex Junior Classic. Longtime Oklahoma State head coach Mike Holder was in attendance, and Van Pelt verbally committed to the Cowboys at La Paloma. 

- 3,330: The number of royal-blue flags planted in the grass on the main walkway at La Paloma Country Club. The message: "Each of these more than 3,330 flags represent a life that could be saved in Arizona in 2030 if we act now." 

He said it

"Early screening, we can get rid of this disease because nine out of 10 (people) survive early detection. It's turned into a passion, and this tournament's turned into a movement. ... Getting people to talk about colorectal cancer. People don't talk about it enough. We have fun with it, but there's so many serious notes that we can take out of it. It's inspiring." — Kelly, on the Cologuard Classic bringing awareness to colorectal cancer