Retirement is treating Joe Pavelski well.

The Wisonsinite who won the 2006 NCAA men’s ice hockey national championship with the Badgers before playing 18 years in the NHL got some more silverware July 13, when he won the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe with a walk-off eagle putt.

“You heard all the rumors about not a lot of current athletes are winning, then Steph (Curry) went and did it, so I had to retire a year ago to get this thing,” Pavelski said in an on-course interview with NBC Sports after winning.

The ball had yet to go in the hole before he began to celebrate.

Pavelski has participated in the event nine times, but this is his first win. He finished second in the ACC in 2022 and 2024 — the latter including a playoff-hole loss to former tennis star Mardy Fish — along with eight top 10s before finally breaking through this summer.

“The birthday and anniversary always line up on this weekend. It’s special coming out here,” Pavelski said following the event, holding the trophy. “Selfishly, I get to play a bunch of golf. It’s a very competitive group out here and just an awesome setting. It feels so good to finally get one.”

The 41-year-old from Plover, Wisconsin scored 73 points in the tournament, with a 2-under 70 on Friday, par 72 on Saturday and 4-under 68 on Sunday. John Smoltz in second place had 64.

The tournament uses a Stableford format, awarding points for each hole’s score. A hole in one is worth eight points, an eagle is six, birdie is three, par is 1 and bogey is zero points with negative two points being awarded for a double bogey or worse.

How did others with Wisconsin connections perform?

Pavelski was one of a handful of people with connections to Wisconsin to participate.

Tony Romo, who grew up in Burlington and has won the ACC three times (2018, 2019 and 2022), finished in the top 10 with 54 points.

Future NFL Hall of Famer and former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers scored 44 points en route to finishing 15th. His righthand man with the Pack, wide receiver Davante Adams, didn’t do so hot, finishing tied for 63rd with -12 points.

And if two former Packers weren’t enough, AJ Hawk finished with five points, good enough for 47th place.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Badger Joe Pavelski won his first American Century Championship