Villegas wins Begay's inaugural Skins Game

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Aug. 26, 2008

VERONA, New York (AP) -- Camilo Villegas apparently likes the skins game format.

The Colombian won a chipoff Tuesday against Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Stewart Cink, and Notah Begay III to walk away with top money at the inaugural Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge at Turning Stone Resort's Atunyote Golf Club.

Villegas' winning pitch on the extra hole of the skins game competition boosted his earnings for the day to $220,000. Singh won two holes to finish with $180,000, and Cink finished with one skin worth $100,000 from the total purse of $500,000.

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Camilo Villegas won $220,000 in skins on Tuesday.

The event, a collaboration between the Oneida Indian Nation of New York and San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians of California, is an effort to aide Native American youth and their communities.

"We're lucky to do what we do," said Villegas, who won more than $200,000 at the two-day World Skins Game in June in Canada. "If we get a chance to help make an impact on a kid's life, that's why we're here."

The first six holes were worth $10,000 apiece, the second six $20,000, holes 13 through 17 were worth $50,000 each, and No. 18 was worth $70,000.

It was tough to score a skin despite picture-perfect weather. When Villegas hit a 250-yard fairway shot to within a foot of the pin at the par-5 fifth hole to set up an easy eagle, Weir nullified it with an 18-foot eagle putt.

"I felt like I played pretty good," Weir said. "But that's skins. You've got to time it right."

The Notah Begay III Foundation was established in 2005 to create sustainable programs that are designed by Native Americans for Native American youth. The NB3 Challenge was the foundation's first national event.

About the only thing missing was Tiger Woods, Begay's college roommate at Stanford University. Woods had committed to playing before he was sidelined for the season with a knee injury.

"He's never played a fundraising event. This was going to be his first one ever," Begay said. "I think that speaks to the amount of respect he has for our friendship. We've been together now for over 20 years.

"I suspect there's a tremendous chance he'll be on the property next year, but the most important thing is that he gets his knee back where he wants to."