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It's Time To Putt Up Or Shut Up

Contestants compete for prizes during Wii golf tournament.

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Zach Dedenbach attempts to qualify for a Nintendo Wii golf tournament at the Clarion Hotel on East Fowler Avenue. The winner got cash, prizes, and the world’s most popular toy.

By LAURA KINSLER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

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NORTH TAMPA - Zach Dedenbach knows Pebble Beach like the back of his hand. He's played the course on his Sony PlayStation hundreds of times over the past five years.

But his first stroke at Tampa's first Nintendo Wii tournament was ugly. He sent the virtual ball right into the trees, then miraculously recovered to shoot a birdie on the first hole. Tiger Woods gave his customary fist-pump on the 65-inch screen.

Dedenbach was 2 under par after the first seven holes and well on his way to qualify for Sunday's "Sweet 16" tournament final at the Clarion Hotel on East Fowler Avenue. The winner would take home cash, prizes, bragging rights and the world's most popular toy, the Wii.

Introduced in late 2006, the Wii video game console — with its wireless remote — was the hottest-selling item over Christmas. At one point in December, Amazon.com was selling 17 Wii systems every second.

More than 80 fans paid the $25 entry fee to compete for the game system. Each contestant played a qualifying round on the Pebble Beach Links course, where Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open. The top scorers leaders moved on to the final Sunday, where they played Jacksonville's famed Sawgrass course, known worldwide for the island green on its 17th hole.

"We just did a tournament in Kalamazoo where the winner hit it in the water three times, and on the fourth shot he hit a hole-in-one," said Tim Smith, owner of the Web site TeeTicker.com, which sponsors the tournament.

"Anybody can play this game. You don't have to be a great golfer. We had a 79-year-old lady play in Kalamazoo, and she made it to the Sweet 16."

The Web site, which allows people to book tee times online for more than 1,500 golf courses, will host two Wii tournaments in Orlando in the next few weeks and another tournament in Tampa starting Feb. 14 at Raymond James Stadium.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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