IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Former NFL safety Micah Hyde returned to Iowa City for the second annual Micah Hyde Charity Golf Classic at Pleasant Valley Golf Course, bringing together past and present Iowa Hawkeyes to raise money for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Hyde raised more than $50,000 at the inaugural event. The charity is partially run by students who were in the same class Hyde took while at the University of Iowa.
Hyde on his motivation
“Being a parent and seeing the kids have to go through stuff like they’re going through, it’s really heavy on my heart,” Hyde said. “So I really try to do everything I can to put a smile on the kids’ faces.”
Past patients, former Hawkeyes take part
Past patients attended as kid captains, including Adeline Lovell, who battled leukemia. Lovell said she hopes to become a Hawkeye cheerleader and rated her cart wheels on the putting green as “pretty good.”
Former nine-year NFL linebacker Christian Kirksey also made the trip back to Iowa City, and jokes about bringing his children along to see his old stomping grounds.
“Maybe go take them around Pancheros,” Kirksey said. “That was my spot.”
Competitive spirit on the course
The event drew competitive energy alongside its charitable mission. Kirksey arrived with confidence.
“Listen, I’ve been talking all morning about how good I am,” Kirksey said. “I got to back it up.”
Hyde matched the energy.
“I’m probably going to be struggling, but I’m going to be talking junk for sure,” Hyde said.
Wetjen reflects on putting contest
Pittsburgh Steeler Kaden Wetjen, who received his NFL draft call on a golf course earlier this year, lost the putting contest to his former special teams coach, LeVar Woods.
“I’m not a very good putter,” Wetjen said. “So I wasn’t expecting to win it, but it was still a pathetic performance by me. I’m a little disappointed.”
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