The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren 2025 Celebrity Event Announced
NEWLY REIMAGINED COMPETITION SUPPORTS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS
Special musical performance by golf professional John Daly
Media Scrums
GRAND BLANC, Mich. – The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren announced today the return of one of the tournament’s fan-favorite events, newly renamed the Celebrity Sports Showdown. The reimagined competition will feature celebrity guests paired with two high school stand-out athletes to form six three-person teams that will compete in a rotational “Sports Showdown” to raise charitable donation prize money for the student athlete’s respective athletic booster programs.
The Celebrity Sports Showdown will take place on Saturday, August 23, following the final pairing of round two of The Ally Challenge. The charity event will be contested exclusively at the famed 17th hole at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.
The event will kick off with a musical performance by PGA TOUR Champions professional and recorded musician John Daly.
CELEBRITY TEAM CAPTAINS
- DUSTY MAY – University of Michigan Men’s Head Basketball Coach… lead the Wolverine’s to the 2025 Big Ten Tournament title… was named the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year (2022/2023)
- TREY MCKENNEY – Flint native… 2025 Michigan Mr. Basketball… McDonald’s All American… and Five-Star guard recruit to the University of Michigan Men’s Basketball Program
- KIM MOORE – Michigan native… U.S. Adaptive Female Golfer ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world… two-time champion of the U.S. Adaptive Open (2025 & 2022)
- BRAYLON EDWARDS – Michigan native… 2004 All-American wide receiver for University of Michigan… the Wolverine’s leader in career receptions… eight seasons in the NFL most notably for the Cleveland Browns (2005-2009)
- ANDREA BRIMMER – Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Ally Financial… Forbes CMO Hall of Fame… former Michigan State University Soccer Star
- JEANNA TROTMAN – Michigan native… accomplished sports broadcast journalist… renowned storyteller… former NCAA athlete
- Grand Blanc High School
- Beecher High School (Flint)
- Powers Catholic High School (Flint)
- Fenton Community High School
- Davison High School
- Clarkston High School
SPORTS SHOWDOWN CHALLENGES
- Closest to the Pin – Participants take one shot from the tournament tee box at the famous Par-3 Hole No. 17. The player whose shot finishes closest to the pin wins! Note: A ball must stay on the green to be counted.
- Golden Arm Challenge – Participants compete in a “Football Throw” using the Ally “A” Truth Mark as the target. Each participant receives :30 seconds to make as many attempts as possible. Challengers receive 2 points for every throw that lands into the center of the “A” and 1 point for throws that hit the Truth Mark but don’t find the center.
- Footgolf Challenge – Participants attempt a soccer kick to a ‘Pin Flag’ on the 17th hole. Each participant receives three kicks from approximately 40 yards. Closest to the pin is the winner.
- “Half Course” Free Throw – Participants attempt a “Half Course” basketball shot from half court distance. Each participant receives :30 seconds to make as many attempts as possible. The challenger that successfully makes the most shots wins.
The Ally Challenge is a Regular Season PGA TOUR Champions event in 2025, which will give way to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs¾a season-ending, three-tournament series used to determine the TOUR’s season-long champion. The 2025 PGA TOUR Champions schedule features 28 events and will conclude with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2025 Season will have players competing for more than $69 million in total prize money, the highest in PGA TOUR Champions’ 45-season history.
All three rounds of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will be broadcast on Golf Channel.
Since its inception in 2018, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has donated nearly $8.4 million to support charity.
