ORLANDO, Fla. — The LPGA is in Orlando for the Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, featuring winners on the golf tour for the past two years and about 50 celebrities.

On Thursday, the tournament honored a pitcher from Brevard County who was a regular at celebrity outings.

This year, there was a notable absence from the field of players. Legendary knuckleballer Tim Wakefield — who was born in Melbourne, played at Eau Gallie High School, went on to win the World Series twice with the Boston Red Sox and was a regular at this event — passed away Oct. 1 after battling brain cancer.

Just last year, Wakefield was the honorary chairperson for the LPGA Tournament of Champions after playing in the event for many years. His presence was still felt Thursday. On the 18th hole, there was a plaque with the No. 49, his number with the Red Sox. Many of his former teammates, like Roger Clemens, Jon Lester and Kevin Millar, and others like former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz wore hats with the No. 49 to honor their friend.

Philanthropy was important to Wakefield, especially in the Central Florida area. That's why, Lester said, Wakefield’s impact went beyond just his team. 

"Impact around the league and then impact, you know, doing these tournaments," Lester said. "I mean, it's a small group that, you know, gets invited to these things and, you know, you kind of become good friends. And even if you're not, you know, affiliated with those people — whether it be baseball, basketball, football, hockey, you know, tennis, whoever's out here — you know, it's just kind of a small fraternity. So it's like I said, he's dearly missed."

Smoltz said, "On and off the field and on and off the course, he was a gentleman. We had our cracks, but he will be sorely missed on the golf course. Certainly the hat represents how many people think of him."

Clemens said Wakefield was a good golfer and would put up good numbers in these tournaments.

"He was a great friend and a great golfing buddy on the road," Clemens said. "He helped pass some time on the road, and he was great throwing that knuckleball 80 innings for us and being out there, a true professional."

On the leaderboard after the first round of this year's tournament, the celebrity leader was Annika Sorenstam, a former LPGA champion herself as well as a resident at Lake Nona. The leader of this year's LPGA golfers was Ayaka Furue.