Category: Events

Seventy-Two Teens to Attend First Tee Game Changers Academy in Philadelphia

 APGA golfer and First Tee alumnus Marcus Byrd and diverse leaders from the sports industry to kick off the weeklong event facilitating critical conversations around issues of race and equality

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. (July 18, 2023) − First Tee, a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, will host the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 18-22, 2023. Seventy-two teens from 51 First Tee chapters across the country have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy where they will participate in conversations and activities designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position them to be advocates for social justice.

The week will kick off with a ‘Critical Conversation’ hosted by RISE on Tuesday, July 18, featuring 8-year NFL veteran, Philadelphia native and member of the Baltimore Ravens Daryl Worley, First Tee – Greater Washington D.C. alumnus and professional golfer, Marcus Byrd, and Lodge Grass High School Head Basketball Coach Josh Stewart. Scarlen Martinez, the Sr. Director of Empowerment at RISE will moderate the panel about how sports lead to access and can help address societal inequalities. 

RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will also facilitate engaging and interactive workshops throughout the week. The workshops will explore a multitude of topics that encourage personal growth and understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community.  The workshops will be paired with reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches, team-building activities such as the Villanova Challenge Course, and golf outings at Walnut Lane Golf Club where they will continue to build relationships with other participants from around the country and learn from each other’s unique perspectives.

“We are proud to offer opportunities for our teens to hear, share and learn from diverse perspectives,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO.  “In past years, we have seen our participants return to their communities inspired and motivated to be advocates for change, and we know it will be the same this year.”

This Academy is an evolution of First Tee’s longest-standing participant event. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017. It’s one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.  

The 72 teens attending the Academy can be viewed here.

Featured Participants: 
 

Ana Hunter, First Tee – Tennessee

  • 18-year-old rising college freshman boasting a 4.0 GPA  
  • Involved with First Tee for nine years and is currently a lead coach at the Memphis location.
  • Senior Representative for Hutchison High School’s Honor Council, member of Society of Women Engineers Next Club, and Hive mind eSports League.
  • Founded the nonprofit “Don’t Ovary Act” to provide her community with proper disposal methods of feminine products and educate about periods and period poverty.
  • Award winning Scholastic Poet.
  • Aspires to be a video game coder.

“From player to coach level at First Tee, I have had no choice but to step out of my safe havens and learn how to adapt. With my career aspirations being in video game development, a male-dominated field, introducing myself and exiting places of familiarity will become all but normality in my life. However, knowing how well-prepared I am because of First Tee gives me the confidence to thrive in my future endeavors.”

Tanvi Samayam, First Tee – Greater Trenton

  • 17-year-old rising senior boasting a 3.9 GPA.
  • Involved with First Tee for six years and volunteers as a coach.
  • Co-captain of her high school varsity golf team, a member of Medical Minds Club, South Asian Society, and Project Green.
  • Tanvi is a certified EMT.
  • Started a non-profit called Mpower Kids that works to empower and support kids around the world today for a better tomorrow.
  • Aspires to be an allergy specialist to help others that battle life-threatening food allergies.

“In order to be an allergy specialist, my goals include excelling in high school, attending a prominent college, and graduating from a well-known medical school. With a medical degree, I will be able to help others like me who have life-threatening food allergies.”  

Jake Zulueta, First Tee – Greater Charlotte

  • 16-year-old rising junior boasting a 4.0 GPA.
  • Involved with First Tee for seven years and is an active youth coach.
  • Member of the Weddington High School varsity golf team, DECA, and the Marine Corp Jr. ROTC program.
  • Recently awarded the MCJROTC Leader by Example award and participated in the United States Naval Academy STEM on DECK in August of 2022.
  • Jake is multi-lingual and speaks Greek, English, French, and is currently learning Arabic.
  • Aspires to follow in his grandparent’s footsteps and join the Navy to carry on their legacy.  

“By embracing diversity and proactively seeking to include all individuals, a leader can establish a more strong and healthier team or community, where everybody can flourish. Ensuring inclusivity should be a primary goal of every leader.”   

Matthew Stolte, First Tee – Minnesota

  • 17-year-old rising college freshman boasting a 4.69 GPA.
  • Involved with First Tee for 13 years and a junior coach for the last two where he helps with the Urban Ventures camps, the Parks and Recreation camps, and the special needs program.
  • He is his golf team captain and a black belt in Taekwondo.
  • He has previously participated in the 2021 First Tee Leadership Summit and 2022 First Tee Champions Challenge.
  • Aspires to attend the University of Minnesota honors program and earn a degree in Management Information Systems to become a software engineer.

“Since then [Leadership Summit] I’ve strengthened relationships and used my skills to influence younger golfers as a golf coach. I learned to be intentional, creating the life I want to live because it’s my responsibility. I’m grateful that I learned this lesson early and I’m excited to build on it to influence and connect with others throughout my journey.”   

80 First Tee Teens Selected for PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach

Golf Channel announced the full field of teens with help from PGA TOUR player Joel Dahmen and PGA TOUR Champions players Tim O’Neal, Rod Pampling and defending PURE Insurance Championship winner Steve Flesch.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (July 10, 2023) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today the 80 First Tee participants selected to play in the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, Sept. 19-24. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised internationally on Golf Channel.

This unique event pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. Ranging in ages from 14 to 18, the First Tee players compete for the pro-junior team title. The teens represent 44 First Tee chapters from across the country and for the third year in a row, a participant from First Tee — Morocco will be in the field. Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their personal growth and development through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability. On average, participants have been involved with First Tee for more than seven years, have a 3.95 GPA and have recorded a 1.5 handicap.

“I’m so proud to continue our involvement with this incredible event,” said Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance. “Being selected to play in this tournament speaks volumes about the character of each of these 80 participants and I’m so excited to see this unforgettable experience play out for them.”

The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today,” featuring surprises that the network recorded at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. Additionally, several players helped surprise select participants leading up to the full field announcement, including PGA TOUR player Joel Dahmen, and PGA TOUR Champions players Tim O’Neal, Rod Pampling and the tournament’s defending champion, Steve Flesch.

Each year two juniors receive exemptions into the PURE Insurance Championship based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, which took place at Stanford Golf Course in July. This year, Alaythia Hinds of First Tee – Greater Sacramento, who

finished second among the girls, and Sean Kwok of First Tee – Tri Valley, who finished in a fourth-place tie, earned those spots.

“Earning the opportunity to play at the PURE Insurance Championship is a goal for many First Tee participants,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Congratulations to the 80 teens who will represent First Tee at this year’s event. This marks the 20th anniversary of the tournament, and we are grateful to our partners at PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel for their ongoing commitment to First Tee. Our alumni who have played at the PURE Insurance Championship have told us it is a life-changing opportunity, and we are so excited for the 80 First Tee teens who will get to experience it in September.”

This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players will feature legends including Ernie Els, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk, as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett and Steve Flesch, who will defend his title. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, where 24 First Tee juniors will compete based on their 36-hole performance. The tournament will crown one male and one female First Tee Junior Champion on Sunday.

More than 1,000 teens from First Tee have played in the PURE Insurance Championship, experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs.

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

The junior field for 2023 PURE Insurance Championship can be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com.

Megan Meng, First Tee — Greater Trenton, and Cooper Groshart, First Tee — Central Coast, win 2023 First Tee National Championship

PALO ALTO, CA. (July 6, 2023) – Megan Meng of Pennington, New Jersey, and Cooper Groshart of San Luis Obispo, California, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the third annual First Tee National Championship at Stanford Golf Course. The event, July 2 to 6, brought 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 next level.

Meng is a 16-year-old rising senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School who’s been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. She finished the 54-hole tournament 5-under-par to win by five strokes. In the final round, Meng shot a tournament low 66 – including a front nine 30 – to secure her victory.

In 2022, Meng won another marquee First Tee event, the PURE Insurance Championship pro-junior title, a PGA TOUR Champions event held at Pebble Beach, shooting a 64 on Sunday. Meng – who currently stands at 27th in the AJGA Girls Rankings – is committed to play golf at Northwestern University. Off the course, she’s an avid reader with a 4.0 GPA.

Meng said the life skills she’s learned through First tee helped her this week. “Practice makes better, and practice definitely gets you where you want to go, so it’s all about how much time you’re willing to put in practicing on the course, but also make sure to have fun with it. Golf is a game for fun and spending time with your friends,” she said.

Groshart, 18, finished in the Top 10 at the 2021 and 2022 First Tee National Championships before winning in this, his third and final attempt. He finished the tournament 4-over-par after shooting a final round 71.

Groshart recently graduated from San Luis Obispo High School with a 3.92 GPA and will play golf this fall at California State University, East Bay. Like Meng, Groshart played at the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship, where he hit a hole-in-one on the iconic seventh hole during a practice round.

In 2022, Groshart completed nearly 100 community service hours, and as a junior First Tee coach, Groshart said he learned a lot about perseverance – a quality that certainly came in handy on Stanford’s challenging course.

“This week I’ve just made a ton of friends and seen old friends I don’t get to see that often,” Groshart said. Sportsmanship is one of the First Tee life skill he called on this week, he said. “This tournament feels like everyone is friends. Everyone is out here for a good time. We want to play some good golf too, but it’s a bunch of friends hanging out on the golf course.”

Both winners were awarded with the Tattersall Cup in honor of event Chairman Fred Tattersall.

Two players from the First Tee National Championship field were also awarded a one-time exemption into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee, held at Pebble Beach Golf Links September 16-24, 2023. With this year’s National Championship winners having already played in the tournament, the exemptions passed on to Alaythia Hinds of First Tee – Greater Sacramento, who finished second among the girls, and Sean Kwok of First Tee – Tri Valley, who finished in a tie for fourth among the boys.

For the first time, the four lowest scoring eligible players (two boys and two girls) from the National Championship field will also earn admission into the PGA TOUR’s new Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport. The PGA TOUR will announce the full roster for its Pathways program, including the four players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.

“Congratulations to everyone who competed in the third annual First Tee National Championship this week, “said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Especially to Megan and Cooper. They represented First Tee with confidence and poise, and we look forward to seeing all that they continue to accomplish on and off the golf course. Thank you to Fred Tattersall for his ongoing support of this tournament and Stanford University for a memorable week.”

First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college golf courses around the nation providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. Stanford University hosted the third annual Championship, following the previous two years at University of Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course and Clemson University’s The Walker Course, respectively.

The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience including 15 competitors who are currently committed to play collegiate golf. Players came from 29 First Tee chapters across the country. A full list of results is available here.

The National 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.

Media Contact:

Megan Hart, First Tee
[email protected]
941-400-8793

Bryson Hughes, First Tee – North Florida and Megan Meng, First Tee – Greater Trenton win Pro-Junior Titles at PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach

Three First Tee teens ace holes 5, 7 and 17 at the iconic course

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2022) – Seventy-eight First Tee teens from across the country had the opportunity to learn from the game’s legends and explore possibilities in golf and beyond during the PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded today at Pebble Beach.

Bryson Hughes representing First Tee – North Florida and paired with Alex Cejka, and Megan Meng representing First Tee – Greater Trenton and paired with Charlie Wi, claimed the male and female Pro-Junior titles today, respectively. Hughes and Cejka finished 18-under and won in a scorecard playoff, while Meng and Wi capped off the event 22-under.

The PURE Insurance Championship, in its 19th year, brings 78 teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply character strengths to play at an elite level at an iconic golf course where they are paired with and mentored by a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, was televised internationally on Golf Channel.

PURE Insurance Championship male and female Pro-Junior winners with Pro winner; R to L: Bryson Hughes, Steve Flesch and Megan Meng

Three teens in the field made holes-in-one at Pebble Beach during their tournament practice rounds – Cooper Groshart from San Louis Obispo, Calif. on #7 (video), Theresa Shaw from Auburn, Calif. on #17 (video) and Sophia Bardunias from San Ramon, Calif. on #5 (video).

“We are proud of all the teens who played with confidence and composure this week at the PURE Insurance Championship,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “These young people exemplify the character and values we instill through the First Tee programs every day. A special congratulations to Bryson and Megan for winning the Pro-Junior titles. Thank you to our partners – PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Chevron, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel – for making this a special week for 78 First Tee participants.”

Hughes is a 15-year-old sophomore at Creekside High School in St. Johns Country, Fla. where he holds a 3.8 GPA. He has been involved with First Tee – North Florida for nine years and playing in this tournament has been a goal since he first watched it on TV as a six-year-old. Hughes holds a +2.3 handicap and is the No. 1 player on the golf team at Creekside High School.

“Thanks to PURE Insurance and First Tee for an amazing experience,” said Hughes.  “Pebble Beach is golf heaven and it feels great to get a win at such a cool course. I’ve tried to make the most of this week by focusing on what I could learn from Alex and all the pros in the field. My biggest takeaway is how well they handle themselves during high-pressure situations.”

Meng is a 16-year-old junior at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ where she holds a 4.5 GPA. She’s been involved with First Tee – Greater Trenton for nine years and has progressed from participant to volunteer junior coach mentoring the younger participants in the program. Meng holds a +2.3 handicap and aspires to play collegiate golf. She was named 2022 NJ.com Golfer of the Year.

“I’ve worked really hard to get to this moment,” said Meng. “But the biggest thing I’ve learned this week is that golf is meant to be fun. I’ve had a really great time and I’ve made memories I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’d like to thank my pro Charlie, PURE Insurance and First Tee for this opportunity.

During the week, First Tee partners PURE Insurance and Chevron both hosted events to celebrate their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raise additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Isabelle Junio, a high school senior from First Tee – Phoenix. The program pairs Scholars with a mentor and provides professional development workshops and financial assistance throughout the college experience.

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

To access photos from the event, visit here. For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee and see the full field list, visit TheFirstTee.org.

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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.  

About Monterey Peninsula Foundation 

Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.  

www.attpbgolf.com 

www.pureinsurancechampionship.com  

About PURE Insurance 

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company designed exclusively for successful, responsible families. We opened for business more than 15 years ago with the goal of offering something different in the insurance space: a company focused on doing what’s right for our membership (policyholders), one that promotes transparency and alignment of interests, and delivers greater value. 

Today, after growing at least 15% in each year since we began, we are the most awarded insurer in our category, offer coverage in all 50 states that includes high value homeowners, automobile, collections, watercraft, personal excess liability, fraud & cyber and flood to a membership of more than 100,000 individuals and families. 
 
Pureinsurance.com | 888.813.7873 

About PGA TOUR Champions 

PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 34 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions. 

All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Tournament programming is available via 25+ TV linear partners in 145+ countries and territories, with 25 channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage, and 200+ hours of live coverage distributed in 135+ countries and territories. Programming is also available via the OTT platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR in every market outside of the United States, excluding China and Korea, with live coverage distributed in 130+ countries and territories. 

Participant BJ Little shares love of golf: “I want that to be a piece of my legacy”

With a perfect 4.0 GPA and student government experience under his belt, BJ Little wants to change the world. He aims to become a criminal defense attorney, U.S. Senator and eventually, President of the United States.

But first, BJ is focused on serving his community. Starting with his high school.

When BJ entered his freshman year at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School there was no golf team. BJ wasn’t going to sit idly by, he was determined to form a team.

“In my freshman year, the very first thing I did was ask for the school to start a golf team,” says BJ. “The school went through all of the necessary preparations for the golf team to start, but then Covid happened.”

For BJ, and most of the country, school was now virtual for the next year and half, halting all chances for the team.

But BJ says the pandemic did not discourage him from achieving his goal.

“Going into my junior year I went in with the same mindset I had freshman year. I asked the school for a golf team, and they delivered.”

BJ helped by recruiting players and finding a practice facility. Leveraging his go-to team, a concept taught and encouraged at First Tee, he smartly enlisted help from his coach and director of golf operations at First Tee – Metro Atlanta Jeff Dunovant. They worked out a plan that the school could use the chapter’s facilities while BJ secured players for the team.

In 2021, the team officially launched. But there was still much work to do.  

“BJ was the only player on the team who was not a beginner, so the practices would consist of BJ and I teaching the new players,” says Dunovant.

And for BJ, that’s what it’s what this is all about.

“In all honesty I just want people to have fun. The State and District titles will come with time. But ensuring students are happy and want to learn about golf is the most important thing to me. I hope that when I graduate Cristo Rey, students will still be playing golf. I want that to be a piece of my legacy to the school.”

BJ is one of 78 First Tee participants teeing off this Friday at the PURE Insurance Championship. The tournament pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions players providing life-changing mentoring opportunities for the teens. This experience opens the participants’ eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating their future education and careers. 

The tournament airs on Golf Channel.

PURE Insurance Surprises First Tee Participant with Scholarship at the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship

PURE Insurance Grows Its Support of First Tee with a Commitment for $1M to the First Tee College Scholarship Program

PEBBLE BEACH, CALI., Sept. 22, 2022 – First Tee®, a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, announced Isabelle Junio as a First Tee Scholar for the Class of 2023, thanks to the support of PURE Insurance.

PURE Insurance has served as title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee since 2017. Since coming on board as title sponsor, PURE has continued to deepen its relationship with First Tee, most recently with their support of First Tee College Scholarship Program through a commitment of $1M over five years.

Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Isabelle Junio, a high school senior from First Tee – Phoenix, yesterday at the PURE Insurance Championship.  Junio is a senior at Millennium High School with a GPA of 4.58. She volunteers for the Agua Fria Fine Arts Festival and aspires to become an engineer.

 “Our admiration for and support of this incredible organization continues to grow,” said Katherine Richardson, EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer at PURE Insurance and Head of PURE Foundation. “It’s particularly gratifying to know that we can impact the remarkable young men and women of First Tee, like Isabelle, in such a powerful way.” 

The surprise happened during a private fundraising event hosted by PURE and benefiting the First Tee College Scholarship program.

Earlier this year, First Tee announced the Class of 2022 First Tee Scholars. With 25 Scholars, it’s the largest to date and includes Jacob Zakaria who was surprised by PURE at the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship.

Junio, Zakaria and all the scholars in the program are paired with dedicated, trained adult mentors who will help encourage them throughout their college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. In addition, the scholars have access to professional development workshops, financial assistance, and help securing internships and job placement. PURE Insurance employees will serve as mentors and the company will contribute to professional development and educational sessions, sharing industry knowledge and expertise with the scholars, as well as offer internship opportunities.  

“Pursuing a college degree is both competitive and challenging for today’s graduating high school students,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We’re grateful for PURE Insurance’s commitment to our mission through the PURE Insurance Championship, and now through the First Tee College Scholarship Program. This meaningful partnership will allow us to support more First Tee alumni through their college experience with the support of PURE Insurance and its dedicated employees.”  

With the support of PURE Insurance and other generous donors, First Tee will expand the Scholarship Program to more than 200 Scholars by 2030. To learn more about First Tee, please visit https://firsttee.org/.  

Overcoming Obstacles: First Tee Teen Going to Pebble Beach

Isabella Lohr was in for a big surprise earlier this year.

She met PGA TOUR player and First Tee alum Austin Smotherman during the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, where he told the 17-year-old from First Tee –  Dallas that she was selected to play in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship.

Isabella is one of 78 First Tee participants who will tee off at Pebble Beach during the tournament, which will take place Sept. 23-25, 2022 and airs on Golf Channel.

“It’s the greatest honor anyone could receive, playing at Pebble Beach,” she said.

The welcome news came after a tough time for Isabella. She lost her childhood friend Dylan Dorrell on August 13, 2020, at the age of 17. He collapsed at a cross country practice and died at the hospital from an undetected heart condition. She says it’s the hardest experience she’s had to overcome.

“Grief was an obstacle I was not ready to face in life. It was a tremendous loss for me personally as every fond memory I had as a child included him.”

Shortly after Dylan’s passing, his parents created a foundation, #runforDylan in his memory.

“We were all still grieving but watching his parents turn their grief into a positive helped me gain a different perspective on life’s purpose.”

Isabella decided she too would honor his memory. In addition to nine years with First Tee, Isabella has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than a decade and decided to focus her Gold Award Project on raising funds for the #runforDylan Foundation.

Her project focused on organizing an annual 5K fun run to build awareness and gain funds for the foundation. More than 800 people participated in the inaugural event on the morning of November 6, 2021, raising close to $25,000. The proceeds will help fund AEDs at local parks in the community.

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First Tee is celebrating its 25th anniversary of teaching life skills through the game of golf. Follow the PURE Insurance Championship at PGATOUR.com.

The Power of the PURE Insurance Championship: First Tee Alumni Success Stories

For the last 19 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has welcomed teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply the life and leadership skills learned from First Tee programs during an event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world.

For many of the teens who are selected for the tournament, the experience opens their eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating post-secondary education and careers, and in some cases, managing fears and emotions. This week, we take a look at several alumni who played in this tournament and how they’ve applied the lessons they learned from First Tee and this experience to reaching for their dreams.

Michelle Xie, First Tee — Silicon Valley

Played in 2013 with Kirk Triplett

Michelle recalls her participation in the PURE Insurance Championship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She played and won the tournament in 2013 alongside Kirk Triplett. The two established an immediate connection, which led to coachable moments on how to manage the mental and physical demands of the game – both on and off the course.

Nothing compared to the exhilaration, nerves and pressure Michelle felt walking down the fairway with Triplett as their pro-junior team was in contention. Those moments of mentorship provided Michelle great perspective to deal with the rigorous schedule of being a student-athlete at Harvard University.

Michelle graduated from Harvard in 2019 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. She played on the women’s golf team, receiving numerous accolades including being named the 2018 Ivy League Individual Champion and was voted as team captain her senior year.

In 2019, Michelle moved back to the Silicon Valley and is working as a software engineer. Although she is not spending as much time at the golf course as she once did, Michelle still uses the many time management and problem-solving skills she learned from competitive golf and First Tee. Now that Michelle is back home, she has become a volunteer coach at the First Tee — Silicon Valley to mentor the next generation of participants.

Rayshon Payton, First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City

Played in 2005 with Gil Morgan

An alumus from First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City, Rayshon remembers watching the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on TV in 2000. From that point on, he dreamed of playing on the course one day himself. This dream became a reality in 2005 when he was selected for the PURE Insurance Championship, paired with PGA TOUR Champions player Gil Morgan. They found themselves in the final pairing on Sunday at Pebble Beach where Rayshon ended up holing out from the 12th bunker on national television.

Rayshon has continued to pursue his dreams off the course. He interned at The White House, working in the office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs where he had the opportunity to work with Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Today, he is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, and has since held positions with the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee and Representatives Kendra Horn (D-Oklahoma) and Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina).

Rayshon currently works as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the US Department of Justice.

Sara Scarlett, First Tee — Greater Sacramento

Played in 2011 with Jerry Pate

Being selected for the PURE Insurance Championship is a goal for many First Tee participants. That was definitely the case for alumna Sara Scarlett.

She joined First Tee around the same time that she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Sara’s confidence was low, and she was struggling to balance her medical needs with the desire to have an active and social childhood. First Tee became her sanctuary – a place where she learned the life skills and core values that would ultimately shape her into a confident teenager who always looked on the “bright side.”

In 2011, she played in the PURE Insurance Championship with Jerry Pate. Some of Sara’s favorite memories include chipping in on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach and the motivational talks with her partner. Sara went on to play on the women’s golf team at University of Texas, graduating in 2017.

Sara has grown the last few years in her career and is currently working as a Digital Director . Sara says she is lucky to have been taught the value of diversity at a young age from First Tee.

Taryn Yee, First Tee — Greater Sacramento

Played in 2009 with Jim Thorpe

For alumna Taryn Yee, playing in the PURE Insurance Championship was the first major goal she set for herself and accomplished on her own merit. Yee claims that she felt like a star when she first arrived at the 2009 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Taryn played with Jim Thorpe, and she says the biggest takeaway was how confident she was at the end of the tournament. The PURE Insurance Championship and the lessons she learned there have provided her self-confidence that she carried with her through college and now into her successful career.

Taryn was a student-athlete at University of California, Irvine. As a freshman, she was selected to attend the PwC Executive Forum at THE PLAYERS Championship as an alumni opportunity with First Tee. At the event, she met PwC executives, spoke with clients and was introduced to the business industry and public accounting. This experience led to a new goal for Taryn, which was to graduate with an accounting degree and become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She accomplished that goal, which ultimately led her to career opportunities at PwC, The Gap, and her current position at Facebook headquarters.

Through setting goals and perseverance, Taryn has been able to stay positive and work through challenges to achieve her goals.

“I have the confidence that I can accomplish anything. There is no such thing as an intangible goal!”

Justin Potwora, First Tee — Greater Portland

Played in 2017 with Bernhard Langer

It wasn’t too long ago that alumnus Justin Potwora was holding up the PURE Insurance Championship trophy with his partner, Bernhard Langer. Meeting First Tee participants from across the country and hearing about their experiences and perspectives left a lasting impact on Justin.

Justin graduated this spring from Southern Methodist University where he majored in finance. During his time in college, he was the Philanthropy Chair for his fraternity which raised more than $50,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Just is currently working as an Investment Banking Analyst for UBS in their Americas Energy Transition Group. He credits First Tee with teaching him how to act professionally, selflessly and never compromise his character and values in whatever he sets out to accomplish.

John Louie, First Tee — Monterey County

Played in 2009 with Donnie Hammond
Played in 2010 with Bobby Clampett

John joined First Tee — Monterey County not long after its inception in September 2004. John attended Salinas High School, but had visions of achieving more. One day he told his father that by using “Goal Setting,” a life skill he had learned at First Tee, he had set a goal to attend Stevenson High School. John applied himself and with his parents’ support, John became a Stevenson “Pirate.”

John competed on the golf team for Stevenson and represented First tee — Monterey County in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments at Pebble Beach.

John was accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont, playing on the men’s golf team for three years. He was tempted to stay on the East Coast and work in finance in New York City like many of his fellow Panthers. However, his heart was in Salinas and the agricultural town where he grew up. He was offered a position with Tanimura & Antle, one of the top agricultural companies in Salinas.

He has since worked his way up the company and now leads one of the firm’s recent acquisitions, PlantTape. John serves on the Board Committee for Taylor Farms Center For Learning. In 2018, he was nominated as a member of the Board of Directors of First Tee — Monterey County, where he continues to give back by mentoring teens in the program.

Learn more about how we provide access to the game and new opportunities through our character-building programs.

Seventy-Two First Tee Teens To Attend First Tee Game Changers Academy in Philadelphia 

A RISE ‘Critical Conversation’ featuring Golf Channel’s Damon Hack, 76ers Isaiah Joe and leaders from the sports industry to kick off the weeklong dialogue around issues of race and equality


PONTE VEDRA, FL. (July 18, 2022) − First Tee, a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, will host the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Philadelphia, July 19-23, 2022. Seventy-two teens from First Tee chapters across the country have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy to explore issues of identity, racism, equity and empathy. 

The week will kick off with a RISE ‘Critical Conversation’ on Tuesday, July 19 featuring Golf Channel’s Damon Hack, PGA TOUR’s Vice-President of Community & Inclusion Marsha Oliver, Villanova University’s Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Director of UNITAS Leashia Lewis and First Tee – Greater Philadelphia’s Assistant Executive Director Rebecca Caimano. Corey Posey, Sr. Director of Programs & Curriculum at RISE will moderate the conversation on the topic of identity and how we talk about race.

RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will also facilitate engaging and interactive workshops through the week. The workshops will explore a multitude of topics that encourage personal growth and understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community.  The workshops will be paired with reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches, team building activities such as a scavenger hunt in the city of Philadelphia and golf outings at Walnut Lane Golf Club and Merion Golf Club where they will continue to build upon their connections with other participants from around the country and hear different perspectives from their peers.  

“Diversity, equity and inclusion have been part of the fabric of First Tee since the beginning, and we are proud to provide an event that allows teens from across the country to go deeper on the subject,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “First Tee is about empowering these young people to be game changers in their community. Congratulations to the 72 teens for being selected from a national pool of candidates to represent their First Tee chapter at this event.”  


This Academy is an evolution of First Tee’s longest standing participant event, the Life Skills Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. The event was enhanced in 2021 to address the challenges teens face in their daily lives and better equips them to build the strength of character to be game changers in their communities. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017. It’s one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.     


The 72 teens attending the Academy can be viewed here. For more information on First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org. 

Featured Participants:   

Natalie McKenzie, First Tee – Greater Seattle  (Bellevue)

  • 17-year-old rising senior boasting a 3.943 GPA  
  • Natalie has been involved with First Tee for twelve years and is the president of First Tee – Greater Seattle’s Junior Advisory Board
  • Plays on varsity girls’ high school golf team  
  • She is the founder and president of the Biotechnology Club at her school where she arranges lectures with local research scientists to expose students to the field 
  • Aspires to be an actuary in the biotechnology field  

“Learning about many different perspectives cultivates a well-rounded understanding of the world around us. This ongoing experience allows individuals to collaborate with others in complementary and eye-opening ways.”

Victoria Farkas, First Tee – Fort Worth  

  • 16-year-old rising junior boasting a 3.8 GPA  
  • Victoria has been involved with First Tee for seven years, where she is the vice president of the Junior Advisory Committee at the chapter.
  • Participates in sports medicine with the football and girls’ soccer teams at her high school  
  • Aspires to play collegiate golf and earn an academic or sports scholarship  

“I’m the only colored golfer at my school and the only Hispanic girl golfer as well. I wish to help Hispanics embrace who they are because we can be that one person that makes a difference and contributes to a richer life experience that others may not get to show.”  

Ethan Selvers, First Tee – Metropolitan New York (Westfield, NJ)

  • 15-year-old rising sophomore boasting a 4.2 GPA  
  • Ethan has been involved with First Tee for seven years 
  • Member of the Small Business Club and the No Place for Hate Committee at his high school 
  • Aspires to have a career in finance  


“Everyone possesses a unique history, and almost everyone I know has long-standing traditions that are unique to their family, religion, or nationality. While our histories and traditions may be different from one another, we all share a common existence and need to learn from one another so that we can utilize our differences to foster innovation.”  


Thalia Hoyos, First Tee – Metropolitan Oklahoma City (Yukon)

  • 15-year-old rising junior boasting a 3.6 GPA  
  • Thalia has been involved with First Tee for six years
  • She is a member of the DECA club at her school, where she organizes community service and fundraising
  • Plays on her high school’s varsity girls’ golf team  
  • Aspires to golf on the LPGA Tour  


“When I moved to Riley, Kansas, I was the only Hispanic girl in my freshman class. Because of my exposure to diverse individuals and keeping an open mind to their viewpoints, I was able to participate in things I would have never thought I would have previously done.”  

__________________________________________________________________

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.  

48 Teens to Compete in First Tee’s National Championship

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 

48 Teens Selected for Inaugural First Tee National Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL. (April 28, 2021) – First Tee has announced the 48-player field for the first-ever First Tee National Championship, June 20-24, 2021 at Clemson University. The event, postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will bring 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.

While COVID protocols will be in effect, the 54-hole event will take place and the winners of each girls’ and boys’ divisions will be awarded with the Tattersall Cup and also will earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee held at Pebble Beach Golf Links September 21-26, 2021.

“We are excited to congratulate this field of teenagers from across the U.S. who have worked hard to advance their golf games while also staying involved in school and their chapters,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We are thankful to longtime First Tee supporter Fred Tattersall for creating this opportunity for the young people across our network of 150 chapters.”

First Tee National Championship will be 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.

Clemson University’s The Walker Course is set to host the inaugural Championship. During the week, participants will have the opportunity to hear from PGA Head Golf Professional Steve Scott on how his values intersected with his experience of finishing Runner-Up to Tiger Woods in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship.

The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-19, who were selected based on their golf skill, competitive golf experience and handicap. Players will come from 32 First Tee chapters across the country. Full list of selected participants here.

First Tee is a youth development organization dedicated to helping young people learn life skills and build character through the game of golf. The National 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.thefirsttee.org.
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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. Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach more than 3.6 million young people annually through its chapter network, in schools and at 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.

Media Contact:
Dana Gordon
[email protected]
856-397-2917

First Tee Game Changers Academy to Explore Issues of Race and Equality with Teen Participants

First Tee has partnered with RISE to facilitate the national event held July 20-24 in Philadelphia

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (January 18, 2021) − First Tee, a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, will host the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, July 20-24, 2021. First Tee teens attending this five-day learning and empowerment academy will participate in critical conversations around issues of identity, racism, equity and empathy.

The event will feature engaging and interactive workshops facilitated by RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations. The workshops will be paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches and keynote speakers from the sports industry including Philadelphia native and PGA TOUR Chief Legal Officer, Len Brown. First Tee – Greater Philadelphia will host the teens for golf outings at John F. Byrne Golf Course where they will continue to build upon their connections with other participants from around the country and hear different perspectives from their peers. The Academy builds throughout the week into a final outreach project in Philadelphia.

“The events of 2020 have reinforced the need for dialogue and to provide a platform for our teens to explore critical topics like diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., has always been an advocate for social justice and I’m proud to carry forward his passion through an event that will empower our participants to be game changers in their community.”

This Academy is an evolution of our longest standing participant event, the Life Skills Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. The enhanced event addresses the challenges our teens face in their daily lives and better equips them to build the strength of character to be game changers in their communities. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017.

“First Tee has and always will be a program that encourages personal growth and life skill development that young people can take with them wherever they go,” said Barrow. “I’m grateful to be associated with an event that will serve as an important platform for critical conversations on the subject of racial equity. I believe it will have a significant impact on the young people who attend, and ultimately their families and communities.”

First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. Ninety-six First Tee teens will be selected for this event via an application process that opens Feb. 9.

First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. These character education programs are offered at golf courses, schools and youth centers in all 50 states and six international locations.

For more information on First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.