Some of the invited celebrities include Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, Pat Mahomes Sr. and Jay Novacek.
GLADEWATER, Texas — Several professional athletes at an East Texas golf course Tuesday playing in a golf tournament to help girls be able to play softball.
The East Texas Celebrity Open is happening at the Tempest Golf Club, located at 568 E Wilkins Road in Gladewater, to support the Texas Warriors Softball Scholarship Fund. Some of the invited celebrities include Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, Pat Mahomes Sr. and Jay Novacek.
The fund provides training, coaching, uniforms, equipment, travel expenses, tournament entries, insurance, registration, sanction fees, etc. for local girls wanting to play softball.
"It's really exciting that we get to have all these celebrities come golfing with us, and we get to meet them. And it's really fun and exciting," said Texas Warriors softball player Aubree Cardenas.
Eugene Lockhart, former Cowboys linebacker and Crockett native, was one of the celebrity golfers. He said East Texas has had a lot of great athletes come out of the area.
"One thing that I love about the East Texas guys, we all come back to give back to our communities," Lockhart said.
Travin Howard, Los Angeles Chargers linebacker and Longview alumni, said he just recently picked up golf a year or two ago.
"It was good, just to see everybody and like, see everybody who made it from a small place in East Texas, Longview. Gladewater, wherever you're from," Howard said.
Kenneth Gant, former Cowboys safety, had some advice for younger athletes out there as well.
"Be you; don't ever follow the crowd and do stuff extra that coaches don't make you do faith without works is dead. I just go back to the Bible," Gant said.
Lockhart added that women's sports have come a long way and also encouraged kids to follow their dreams and work hard.
"If you want to be the best, you gotta pay the price, put the time in and be the best at anything you do," Lockhart said.