Winner of Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions earn spot into PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links in September
South Bend, Indiana – (June 22, 2022) – First Tee will host48 of its teenage participants at the second annual First Tee National Championship at the University of Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course, June 27 – July 1. The 54-hole event brings together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate or next level.
The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. The participants have spent an average of eight years in the program and represent 28 First Tee chapters across the country. Four players in the field are ranked on the American Junior Golf Association and Junior Golf Scoreboard Top 250, including Symran Shah from First Tee – Greater Dallas, who will be returning to defend her National Championship Girls’ Division title.
Top-ranked junior golfers in the field:
- Hunter Swanson, First Tee — Green Valley Ranch:
- Finished tied for 2nd in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, CO., Jun 6-9, 2022
- Competed in the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur at The Country Club of North Carolina, July 19-24, 2021
- Ranked 90th on AJGA / 93rd on JGS
- Letter of intent: University of Colorado
- Sophie Thai, First Tee — Silicon Valley:
- Won the AJGA Se Ri Pak Desert Junior in Rancho at Mission Hills Country Club, Mirage, Calif, June 14-17
- Ranked 196 on AJGA / 135 on JGS
- Letter of intent: Dartmouth College
- Hannah Lydic, First Tee — Delaware:
- Ranked 210 on AJGA / 181 on JGS
- Verbal intent: University of Richmond
- Symran Shah, First Tee — Greater Dallas:
- Inaugural Winner of 2021 First Tee National Championship Girls Division held at Clemson University
- Ranked 246 on AJGA / 178 on JGS
- Letter of intent: Virginia Tech
In addition, Matthew French from First Tee — North Florida recently qualified for the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore. July 25-30.
View the full list of selected participants here.
“Congratulations to each of the participants in the field,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We look forward to hosting them at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course, a tremendous venue that provides our participants the opportunity to explore what their future may look like as they consider college and potential plans to pursue competitive golf beyond high school. A special thanks to our long-time Trustee Fred Tattersall for his commitment to our mission and for providing meaningful national opportunities like the First Tee National Championship.”
The winners of each girls’ and boys’ divisions will be awarded with the Tattersall Cup and will earn an exemption, if eligible, into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee held at Pebble Beach Golf Links September 20-25, 2022.
During the week, participants will have the opportunity to hear from PGA Head Golf Professional Steve Scott on what it means to be a game-changer and how his values intersected with his experience of finishing runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship.
First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college campuses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. The Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information on the tournament and First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching millions of youth through its network of 150 chapters, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Henika, First Tee
[email protected]
904-881-7398