PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Shawn Stefani – pronounced Stephanie, no relation to Gwen – moved and grooved his way to the top of the Tampa Bay Championship leaderboard on Thursday with a 6-under 65 in his first ever competitive round at Innisbrook.
While the 31-year-old Houston resident welcomes the associations people make between his last name and that of Gwen Stefani, he’s more of a boot scootin’ boogie man than a ‘Hollaback Girl’ ... or guy.
‘I love George Straight,’ Stefani beamed when asked about one of his favorite artists. ‘He’s coming to Houston, March 17th I think.’
That’s not to say he isn’t familiar with No Doubt’s former leading lady and her work.
‘I have (listened to Gwen Stefani’s music) in the past. More of a country guy. She doesn’t make any music – or doesn’t make as much music as she used to. I’ve got a few wedges that have a few stamps on them from the band, No Doubt and got another one that says ‘Hollaback,’ the song.’
So there’s a few people out here that call me Stefani and some people call me Gwen. Never been a big issue with it, but it’s kind of fun.’