Silverardo Resort VP/Marketing Julie Maurer said that a wildfire engulfing Napa, Calif., caused "significant damage" to the site of last weekend's PGA Tour Safeway Open, including "several condominiums on the east side of the resort," according to Ron Kroichick of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Maurer was "unsure about the extent of damage to Silverado’s golf courses, but a Getty Images photo showed a greenside hospitality structure engulfed in flames." Safeway Open Tournament Dir Jeff Sanders said that the skybox near the No. 17 green had "burned down." Several PGA Tour pros were "among the Silverado guests evacuated Sunday night." Golfer Maverick McNealy posted a tweet saying that he was "awakened by Napa firefighters and evacuated the resort." Meanwhile, Sonoma Raceway officials yesterday said that the race track was "not in immediate danger from the wildfires spreading across Sonoma and Napa counties" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/10). In California, Maria Sestito in front-page piece notes everything that was left from the golf tournament "remained, but was in disarray." Banners had been "blown down along with several giant letters next to the green that had spelled out 'Safeway Open.'" A spokesperson said that the resort was "evacuated Sunday night" (NAPA VALLEY REGISTER, 10/10).
EVACUATION ROUTE: In S.F., Susan Slusser notes a "who’s who of athletes" fled the Wine Country fires early yesterday morning after attending Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott’s celebrity fundraiser at Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa. Those fleeing included former Olympic speedskater Dan Jansen and former MLBers Barry Bonds, Bret Saberhagen and Eric Gagne (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/10).
