MAKENA, Maui — Under the blazing sun of south Maui, Chad Gaudin and Shane Victorino exchanged pleasantries before heading out for a round of golf.

It was a much different scene than when Gaudin's New York Yankees and Victorino's Philadelphia Phillies met in the World Series earlier this month.

Gaudin and about 20 other sports figures and celebrities gathered at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort yesterday for the 2nd Annual Shane Victorino Celebrity Golf Classic.

Last year's inaugural event raised $100,000 for the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter. This year the goal was set at $120,000, with the proceeds benefitting the Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation.

"He said that he wanted to do something for children this year and we are elated," HCCF representative Diane Ono said. "This tournament couldn't have come at a better time. The economy has meant some parents are losing their jobs and the financial and emotional strain can be unbelievable. We just try to make the process simple for them: pay a bill, pay for gas, that kind of thing."

One of Victorino's teammates, first baseman Ryan Howard, was among the major leaguers teeing it up yesterday.

"I came last year and I had a blast," Howard said. "I told him to let me know when and I'll be there again."

Howard said Victorino's passion on the field is indicative of his compassion outside the lines, too.

"This is huge on his part," Howard said. "It just goes to show that he's got a big heart on and off the field."

Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton, whose mother, aunt and cousin have been stricken by cancer, said it didn't take much convincing to get him here.

"It's hard to beat, you know, gorgeous weather and we get to play some golf," Blanton said. "Plus, it's for a great cause. I think cancer is one of those things that hits just about everybody close to home."

Former KGMB sports director Neil Everett has been involved with children's charities in both Connecticut and Oregon.

"I don't know how anybody who is in a position to help could say no to a charity, especially a children's charity," Everett said.

Everett, who has widely spread Victorino's nickname of "Flyin' Hawaiian," as a SportsCenter anchor on ESPN, said the St. Anthony graduate should serve as an inspiration to young athletes.

"When I first met Shane, he was a stick figure. He was thin, but he was full of pep back then. Would I have guessed that he would ever do what he has done? No, but the same holds true for Benny (Agbayani)," Everett said. "I knew Benny when he was 17 or 18 years old and so it's really a message for the local kids that if you work hard and stay focused, do the right thing and have a little luck to go with the immense amount of skill that you must have, then good things are going to happen for you."

Despite the inches and pounds he has added since his prep days on Maui, Victorino said he still approaches the game the same way.

"When you're out there and you're playing the game, it's almost like I still feel like I'm playing Little League and that's what makes it so fun and why I enjoy the game so much is because I play it like I'm a little kid still," said Victorino, who won his second straight Gold Glove this year. "I know it's a job, but I try to have fun and do the best I can."

Kalani grad and ex-major leaguer Lenn Sakata, who played in yesterday's event, said Victorino possesses more than just the intangibles.

"I'm very impressed with Shane; I think he's improved every year," said Sakata, who won a World Series with Baltimore in 1983. "He's got something special about him because he doesn't cave in under pressure."

Gaudin, a pitcher, first met Victorino while they were playing in the Double-A Southern League in 2003.

"Right about that time, he was just starting to switch hit and to see how far he's come from there to where he is now, it's pretty amazing," Gaudin said. "Only a great athlete can do that. It's pretty special."

Despite his successes, Victorino doesn't like comparisons.

"It means a lot to me to be put in a class of the best players to come out of Hawai'i, but for the most part, I just want to go out there and be myself and play the best I can," he said. "I want to be seen as a role model for kids to say, 'Hey, there is a chance for us to get off this rock and get away and play as major leaguers.' "