Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
January 21, 2024
Congratulations to the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champion Lydia Ko and celebrity champion Jeff McNeil! Over the weekend, LPGA champions played a 72-hole stroke play with no cut, while celebrities fought it out in a modified Stableford format. In the end, Lydia Ko beat out the field by 2-strokes, earning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champion Title and put herself on the cusp of Hall of Fame status.
Jeff McNeil traveled cross country to win the celebrity portion of the event and lift the championship trophy made in his home town of Nipomo, California. The New York Mets second baseman played his high school ball (baseball, basketball and golf) less than 5 miles from the headquarters of Malcolm DeMille Inc., the trophy’s crafter.
The trophy awarded features textured panels pierced with open work palm trees that fit together to resemble a 3-diamentional representation of the tournament logo. The perpetual trophy is finished in bright rhodium plate and stands over 20” tall on a hardwood base including a title plate and plates on each side to record past champions.
Not only did Malcolm DeMille create this attention-grabbing modern trophy, but also designed and crafted “player badge” money clips for the event. Players were asked to wear these money clip badges that would allow them to roam freely during the event, but then would become a functioning memento afterwards. Player badges remain a classy way to ensure security without needing internet or power on a large course.
