CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Perhaps for the first time in his athletic career, Wesley Walls felt what it's like to be a kicker.
The former Carolina Panthers tight end admitted he was nervous through the first three holes of the $100K Celebrity Putting Challenge ahead of this year's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
"I was nervous today for some reason, I was playing for Greg Olsen's charity, HEARTest Yard," Walls said. "I really wanted to play well and win some money for his charity."
Walls was on the money as usual, winning the event for the second-straight year, and that netted Olsen's HEARTest Yard Foundation $10,000.
The pressure gets a little ratcheted up when the guy you're playing for is right there.
As you know, Greg can talk," Walls said. "He's really good at what he does. He was pulling for me back there. He kind of made me a little nervous. But I did OK for him."
It was a star-studded field featuring former Panthers Olsen, Luke Kuechly and Jonathan Stewart, as well as GM Dan Morgan and President Kristi Coleman.
Charlotte FC Manager Dean Smith looked sharp. WCNC Charlotte's Eugene Robinson was one stroke off the winner, and Ashley Stroehlein and Nick Carboni posted respectable scores, too.
NASCAR drivers Chase Briscoe and Daniel Hemric participated, as did Hornets Executive VP of Basketball Operations, Jeff Peterson.
Charlotte FC captain Ashley Westwood was also on the field.
Radio host Charlie Nance won the long-putt competition, sinking a deep shot to win $40,000 for his charity of choice.
Wells Fargo matched the $50,000 raised by donating $50,000 to Levine Children's Hospital.
Last year, the Wells Fargo Championship raised about $2.5 million for local charities and has donated over $30 million during the two-decade lifetime of the event.
This year's Wells Fargo Championship is May 6-12 at Quail Hollow Club.