PURE Insurance Championship Archives

PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee Brings Surprises for High School Seniors and Meaningful Donation

Monterey Peninsula Foundation, PURE Insurance and others unite to donate $500,000 to First Tee

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (Sept. 21, 2020) – While the 2020 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee, a PGA TOUR Champions event, was played at Pebble Beach this past week without First Tee juniors in the field due to COVID-19, the positive impact will be felt for years to come thanks to several surprises and a generous $500,000 donation from supportive partners.

Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the entity that operates the PURE Insurance Championship, PURE Insurance, and Chevron came together in support of First Tee’s mission through a generous $500,000 pledge that will fund much-needed technology projects for the nonprofit youth development organization.

All 70 high school seniors from First Tee chapters who applied to participate in the 2020 PURE Insurance Championship were surprised with a one-time contribution toward college and their names donned on PGA TOUR Champions caddy bibs. All First Tee applicants were invited to virtual experiences that included a video presentation on character values from influencers including professional athletes, actors and politicians, as well as a private concert performance from Train and Pat Monahan.

“The donations to support First Tee’s technology efforts are deeply appreciated and will make a foundational impact in our ability to reach and connect with young people from all backgrounds,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “It will truly have a lasting effect and a shining outcome from what has been a challenging year on many fronts. We are grateful to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, PURE Insurance and PGA TOUR Champions players who went above and beyond to make the First Tee applicants feel included in this year’s event.”

The donation will be used to help First Tee build important digital infrastructure that improves kids’ experience and provides 24/7 access to the program, as well as improve virtual education and training for adults, which is critical for expansion and reaching more kids and teens. In addition, funding from Chevron will go toward supporting select alumni with a financial contribution toward their higher education.

“First Tee participants were missed dearly at this year’s PURE Insurance Championship,” said Steve John, tournament director and CEO for Monterey Peninsula Foundation. “The teens have shown resilience in a year of adversity, which reinforces why we support organizations like First Tee that help lift up young people and empower them to build their strength of character.”

For the last 17 years, PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee has provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for First Tee teen participants to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business world. Due to the global pandemic, the First Tee teens did not play in this year’s event but were still recognized for their hard work and efforts to qualify for the application process.

“We are proud to continue our involvement with this wonderful event and to help support the important work of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and First Tee,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “Supporting these incredible young men and women from the First Tee through this sponsorship is tremendously rewarding for our entire team.”

First Tee is a youth development organization that empowers kids to build their strength of character through the game of golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to encourage and inspire kids as they progress through the program toward higher education opportunities.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. For more information on First Tee, visit firsttee.org.

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

For the last 17 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has welcomed teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills 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.

Michelle recently moved back to the Silicon Valley to join REX Real Estate 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 is currently the Legislative Director for Representative Kendra Horn.

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 now works for Chevron on the Corporate Affairs team where she works with the local community and nonprofits on Chevron-supported initiatives. 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 as a financial analyst 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.

Currently, Justin is entering his senior year at Southern Methodist University where he is majoring in finance. He was recently promoted to Portfolio Manager with Boulevard Investment Group and is also the Philanthropy Chair for his fraternity which raised more than $50,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. His goal is to eventually work for a private equity firm and continue to be a leader in his community. Justin 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. Last year, 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.

Though this year’s event will be played without our First Tee participants, this tournament has remained committed to recognizing our participants, their hard work and aspirations. We are grateful to PURE Insurance, Pebble Beach and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for investing in their futures through First Tee.

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

PURE Insurance Championship Leaves Lasting Impression on 78 Teens

PURE Insurance Championship’s Pro-Junior Winners Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento and Ashley Menne from First Tee of Phoenix

It was the trip of a lifetime for 78 First Tee teens who stepped into the spotlight and showed off the life skills and values learned in First Tee programs as they competed on a national stage for the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. The teens played with confidence and composure as they persevered on one of the toughest and most iconic golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach Golf Links, while being mentored by some of the legends of the games – PGA TOUR Champions players. Making it to this unique event was the real prize, but two of these teens are bringing home a little something extra: the Pro-Junior title.

Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento, who was paired with Kirk Triplett, finished at 23-under, winning the male Pro-Junior title.

“It was a special week playing Pebble Beach and learning from the PGA TOUR Champions professionals,” said Sommerhauser. “Playing so well with Mr. Triplett and watching his determination and composure first-hand has been an experience I’ll never forget.”

Ashley Menne from First Tee of Phoenix, paired with Tom Lehman, won the female Pro-Junior title with a score of 18-under.

“The life skills I’ve learned through the First Tee helped me persevere this week to keep playing one shot at a time,” said Menne. “I’m so thankful for the outcome and for a great experience playing with Tom Lehman.”

It’s evident that these two are destined for greatness. They’ll both continue their golf journeys next year as they play at University of Arizona and Arizona State University, respectively. Beyond that, Sam and Ashley hope to play with the pros on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.

We look forward to seeing where the future leads these two young people – and know they will carry their First Tee experience along for the journey.

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

Top 5 Tournament Moments:

1. Sportsmanship came to light on the 18th green Sunday afternoon when the First Tee participants stayed to cheer on their fellow competitors who made the cut on Sunday.

2. Each of the 42 high school seniors in the field were surprised with a $1,000 college scholarship thanks to Ed and Lisa Vaughn.

3. PGA TOUR Champions pro Woody Austin sunk a hole-in-one on Pebble Beach’s No. 17 – complete with a celebration alongside his teammate and First Tee of San Joaquin participant, Lauren Garces.

4. Six First Tee juniors and six PGA TOUR Champions pros were paired up for the Chevron Shoot-Out for STEM Scholars on Thursday. The event raised $100,000 for a college scholarship fund for future First Tee participants.

5. Scott Schlader from First Tee of Phoenix and defending champion Ken Tanigawa had a little fun before their first round.

Final Leaderboard & Results

78 First Tee Teens Experience the Week of a Lifetime at PURE Insurance Championship

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2019) – Teens from across the country had the opportunity to learn from the game’s legends during the PURE Insurance Open at Pebble Beach Impacting the First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded today. Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento, paired with Kirk Triplett, and Ashley Menne from First Tee of Phoenix, paired with Tom Lehman, claimed the male and female Pro-Junior titles today, respectively. Sommerhauser and Triplett finished 23-under, while Menne and Lehman capped off the event with a score of 18-under.

First Tee is a national youth development program that helps young people build character using the game of golf as a platform. The event, in its 16^th year, brings 78 teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills 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. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, was televised internationally on Golf Channel.

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

Sommerhauser is a 17-year-old senior at Whitney High School in Rocklin, Calif. where he has a 3.88 GPA and plays on the boys’ golf team. He has been involved with First Tee of Greater Sacramento for eight years and volunteers as an assistant coach. He credits the program for life skills and values that he will carry into college and adulthood. Sommerhauser holds a 1.9 handicap and is committed to play golf at the University of Arizona next fall.

Menne is a 17-year-old senior at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz. where she has a 4.0 GPA and plays on the girls’ golf team. She’s been involved with First Tee of Phoenix for five years and is pursuing her Ace Certification, the highest level in the First Tee program that focuses on goal setting, career exploration and giving back to the community. Menne holds a 1.2 handicap and has committed to play on the women’s golf team at Arizona State University next fall.

Kirk Triplett won the pro title, defeating Billy Andrade on the first playoff hole to secure his second victory of the season. Triplett became the second player in the history of the PURE Insurance Championship to own three titles at the event (2019, 2013 and 2012). This win moves him to No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup rankings.

Final Leaderboard & Results

Chevron Shoot-out for STEM Scholars

Pebble Beach Golf Links
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Holes 1-2-3-17 and a juniors-only closest to the pin chip shot

Format
Modified Scotch alternate-shot format. Each team plays alternate shot to completion of hole.

Final hole (17 ½) is closest to the pin chip shot by the junior golfers only.

Scholarship Purse
Total purse: $100,000 ($20,000 per hole). Scholarships on behalf of Chevron will be given to First Tee HQ in the name of the First Tee Junior.

Participants

Professional	Junior	The First Tee Chapter
John Cook	Shani Waite	First Tee of Los Angeles
Bernhard Langer	Stephany Barbosa	First Tee of Greater Dallas
Esteban Toledo	Ashley Menne	First Tee of Phoenix
Ken Tanigawa	Alexander Iniakov	First Tee of Monterey County
Kirk Triplett	Anthony Ford II	First Tee of Metro Atlanta
Paul Broadhurst	Jamozzy Skenandore	First Tee of Northeast Wisconsin

Hole-by-Hole Results – Girls

Hole 1: Toledo/Menne (par) – $10,000
Hole 2: Toledo/Menne (birdie) – $10,000
Hole 3: Halved with pars (carry over)
Hole 17: Toledo/Menne (par) – $20,000
Hole 17 ½: Menne chipped closest to the pin ($10,000)

Team Toledo/Menne wins $50,000 towards Chevron scholarships for First Tee

Hole-by-Hole Results – Boys

Hole 1: Halved with parts (carry over)
Hole 2: Tanigawa/Iniakov (birdie) – $20,000
Hole 3: Halved with bogey 5’s (carry over)
Hole 17: Halved with bogey 4’s (carry over)
Hole 17 ½: Skenandore chipped closest to the pin ($30,000)

Team Tanigawa/Iniakov wins $20,000 towards Chevron scholarships for First Tee

Team Broadhurst/Skenandore wins $30,000 towards Chevron scholarships for First Tee

Meet the Field: PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee 2019

By Brittany Wynne, First Tee

Seventy-eight First Tee teens are getting ready to tee it up at iconic Pebble Beach for the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. One thing each of the 78 teens have in common is their proven leadership and demonstration of values on display at their First Tee chapters, at school and in their communities. Beyond that, these teens also represent a wide array of backgrounds, talents and hobbies. We’d like to introduce you to 20 of the juniors in this year’s field.

Tune in to Golf Channel Sept. 27-29 to watch these teens and see how they put their life skills and golf skills into action.

Neil Babu
First Tee of Northern Nevada

Hometown: Reno, NV
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 3.9
Fun Fact: I am a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, which I earned this year. It has taught me perseverance, hard word and grit.

Malisone Chanthapanya
First Tee of Fort Worth

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 0.5
Fun Fact: I am quadrilingual. I can speak fluent English and French (thanks to my father, who speaks the language). I learned Mandarin Chinese for three years and Spanish for 11 years.

Madison DeBruin
First Tee of Greater Houston

Hometown: Houston, TX
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 4.8
Fun Fact: At a young age, I taught myself how to read hieroglyphs and am obsessed with everything ancient Egyptian. I work at the same museum I have been visiting my whole life and am trained in all sorts of macabre areas.

Sean Dobson
First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 5.9
Fun Fact: I have a fascination with meteorology. The only time I have ever met anyone else my age who shares my love for weather was at a summer weather camp that I traveled hundreds of miles to attend.

Ella Fisher
First Tee of Fort Worth

Hometown: Aledo, TX
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 2.9
Fun Fact: I’m learning American Sign Language and have had the opportunity to immerse myself in the deaf community and really test out my skills.

Anthony Ford II
First Tee of Metro Atlanta

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Age: 16
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 2.1
Fun Fact: I like to try new things. I picked Harp Ensemble as my elective unlike many of my peers who chose P.E. or weight training.

Lukas Freelove
First Tee of Salina

Hometown: Salina, KS
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 1.2
Fun Fact: Before I was born, my parents were struggling to come up with a boy’s name that they liked. One night while watching Star Wars, it hit my mom: Luke. My dad loved it, too; mostly because he would be able to say, “Luke, I am your father.”

Skylar Graham
First Tee of Los Angeles

Hometown: Rosewood, CA
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 6.4
Fun Fact: I am a photographer. In 2017, I was awarded two gold medals for Best-In-Grade in photography by the National Scholastic Art & Writing competition. My work was honored in New York at Carnegie Hall, and it toured in other galleries across the nation.

Ryan Guzzo
First Tee of Benton Harbor

Hometown: Benton Harbor, MI
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 4
Fun Fact: As a third-grader, I was selected to have a golf lesson with Jack Nicklaus as a kickoff celebration to a PGA TOUR Champions event at our local course. I hit balls on the range while Mr. Nicklaus coached my swing. In eighth grade, I completed a video assignment on the impact he had on me. My dad sent the video to Jack Nicklaus through his website, and incredibly he watched it and sent me a letter with a signed picture of us together from that day.

Keiki Hofilena
First Tee of Greater Seattle

Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 5
Fun Fact: I’m restoring a 1984 Volkswagen Mk2 Scirocco Wolfsburg edition into a daily driver/racecar. I drive the car to school and try to keep it in good shape.

Grace Holcomb
First Tee of Greater Wilmington

Hometown: Wilmington, NC
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 0.9
Fun Fact: I played Baby Jenny on the hit TV series, “One Tree Hill.” During a convention this past February, I signed autographs for fans. Some of the fans – and One Tree Hill actress Hilarie Burton, a.k.a. Peyton – follow my golf career.

Alexander Iniakov
First Tee of Monterey County

Hometown: Salinas, CA
Age: 17
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 0.9
Fun Fact: My parents are first-generation immigrants and came from countries where golf is not a popular game. I was raised with four languages spoken daily at our house. Teachers would call my Mom and ask her to translate what I was saying. It turns out, I was simply making my own language, thinking that I had to since everyone at home spoke their own.

Jack Kray
First Tee of South Dakota

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 4.9
Fun Fact: When the weather is nice, I ride my moped around town instead of driving a car. It is orange and white. Four of my friends have mopeds, too! We like to join up and go for rides together.

Stephen Ma
First Tee of Central Ohio

Hometown: Columbus, OH
Age: 14
Grade: Freshman
Handicap: 6
Fun Fact: I presented Ohio legislation to increase the number of horse therapy centers as there is a waiting list of more than 5,000 kids. I co-authored a proposal to change the tax code for stables to qualify for discounted property taxes and the handicap access necessary for the level of horse therapy certification for stables. My teammates and I presented the proposal to State Representative Jonathan Dever, who is drafting a bill and presenting it to the House.

Sutton McMillan
First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City

Hometown: Choctaw, OK
Age: 15
Grade: Sophomore
Handicap: 0.3
Fun Fact: I’m named after legendary basketball coach, Eddie Sutton. I met Coach Sutton at four months old. He gave me a pair of signed Nike shoes. Six months later, he sent another signed pair and called my parents personally to wish us a Merry Christmas.

Tyler Mistretta
First Tee of The Palm Beaches

Hometown: North Palm Beach, FL
Age: 17
Grade: Junior
Handicap: 1.6
Fun Fact: I am very tall, at 6 feet, 8 inches and weigh 220 pounds. People often stare at me, as I am usually the tallest person wherever I go.

Ryan Sauer
First Tee of North Florida

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 4.7
Fun Fact: I’ve gained the nickname “Peter Parker” because some people think I look like the Spiderman actor, Tobey Maguire.

Sophie Shrader
First Tee of Naples/Collier

Hometown: Naples, FL
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 5
Fun Fact: I’m obsessed with the restaurant Moe’s. I once had Moe’s for lunch nine days in a row, ordering the same meal each time – a chicken stack with cheese, black beans, queso and seasoned rice.

Jamozzy Skenandore
First Tee of Northeast Wisconsin

Hometown: De Pere, WI
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 0.9
Fun Fact: Many people do not know how to pronounce my name. My Dad came up with it. It is derived from the rock band Pearl Jam and Ozzy Osbourne, Jam-ozzy. My family and I often drive to golf tournaments on our RV. We will be traveling to Pebble Beach on the RV from Wisconsin, making fun pit stops along the way.

Zayla White
First Tee of Greater Austin

Hometown: Austin, TX
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Handicap: 3.7
Fun Fact: I have a growing record collection, and anyone who knows me knows that I’m almost always listening to music. I pride myself on finding different artists across all genres.

Seventy-Eight First Tee Teens Selected for PGA TOUR Champions PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee at Pebble Beach

Jack Nicklaus, PGA TOUR players and Golf Channel hosts surprise teens on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive”

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (July 3, 2019) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today the 78 First Tee participants selected to play in the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. The 16^th annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will be held September 24-29 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, and will be televised internationally on Golf Channel.

The PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee is the only event of its kind where 78 First Tee teenagers from across the country are paired up with 78 PGA TOUR Champions players and 156 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. Ranging in ages from 14 to 18, the First Tee participants compete for the Pro-Junior Team title. Representing 27 states, participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their understanding and application of the values and life skills learned through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability.

The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” today, including a video of World Golf Hall of Fame Member Jack Nicklaus surprising Stephen Ma from First Tee of Central Ohio. Other surprises by PGA TOUR players and Golf Channel hosts had been recorded over the last month and aired today as part of the PURE Insurance Championship announcement.

“We are proud to continue our involvement with this prestigious event and help support the great work of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and First Tee,” said Katherine Frattarola, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “The impact this event has on the incredible young men and women from the First Tee makes this sponsorship tremendously rewarding for our entire team.”

This year’s field of professionals will include World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, as well as defending champion and recent KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship winner Ken Tanigawa. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course on Friday and Saturday, with the final round contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, where 23 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.

Nearly 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 in the field.

“Congratulations to the 78 participants who have been selected to play and represent First Tee on a national stage,” said First Tee President Greg McLaughlin. “Their hard work and commitment to academic, social and emotional development through our programs has secured this opportunity. Thank you to our partners − PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Poppy Hills Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel − for their commitment to young people and helping us provide this opportunity to these deserving teens.”

First Tee is a youth development organization dedicated to helping young people build character through the game of golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to encourage and motivate kids as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee, visit TheFirstTee.org.

View First Tee participants selected to play in the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship

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About First Tee

First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a nonprofit youth development organization whose 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 beginning in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Its headquarters are in St. Augustine, Florida, USA, with programs in all 50 United States and select international locations.

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

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is a member-owned reciprocal insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. PURE provides customizable coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft, flood, fraud and cyber fraud to more than 75,000 responsible, high net worth families throughout the U.S. Inspired by some of the finest policyholder-owned companies, PURE emphasizes alignment of interests and transparency. PURE’s low cost of capital, careful member selection and proactive risk management all contribute to highly competitive rates. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. PURE membership is subject to an executed Subscriber’s Agreement & Power of Attorney. For more information or to find a local broker, visit pureinsurance.com. You can follow PURE on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About PGA TOUR Champions

PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 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. In 2019, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 27 tournaments across the United States, Scotland and Canada, with purses totaling more than $56 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. 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. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 350 million potential households. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @championstour.

MATTHEW SUTHERLAND OF THE FIRST TEE OF GREATER SACRAMENTO WINS AT PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYING ALONGSIDE HIS UNCLE

Matthew Sutherland and Kevin Sutherland Claim the Pro-Junior Title during the PGA TOUR Champions Event; Ken Tanigawa clinches Pro Title

Pebble Beach, Calif – Sept. 30, 2018 – Matthew Sutherland from The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and his uncle, PGA TOUR Champions professional Kevin Sutherland, clinched the Pro-Junior title today at the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee finishing 16-under. The Sutherlands won the tournament in a three-way scorecard playoff with Caroline Wales from The First Tee of Coachella Valley (Calif.) and pro partner Stephen Ames, and Yena Jang from The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and pro partner Duffy Waldorf.

Making his PURE Insurance Championship debut, Ken Tanigawa earned his first win on the PGA TOUR Champions with an eagle on the 18th hole to finish 10-under. Tanigawa was a medalist at PGA TOUR Champions Q-School in December 2017 and earned fully-exempt status for this season. This was his 18th start on PGA TOUR Champions this season. This win moved him to No. 20 in the Charles Schwab Cup.

The PURE Insurance Championship is a unique event that pairs junior golfers with PGA TOUR Champions professionals. Eighty-one juniors and pros were in the field for the tournament played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course this weekend. Matthew Sutherland, from Carmichael, Calif., was one of 23 junior golfers who made the cut to play the third and final round today at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

“Before the week I was thinking of all the players who have played competitive golf at Pebble Beach, and it’s a short list,” said The First Tee participant Matthew Sutherland. “To put yourself in a category of people who have won at Pebble Beach is on another level and I’m just happy to be a part of that.”

“Congratulations to all 81 of our junior golfers and especially Matthew Sutherland for their outstanding performance at this week’s tournament,” said Keith Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee. “These teens demonstrate how The First Tee’s Nine Core Values positively impact kids’ lives and can be used every day on and off the course. A special thanks to PURE Insurance and Monterey Peninsula Foundation for helping make their dreams come true.”

“We are proud of all the juniors who competed this week; it was an absolute honor to get to know each and every one of these incredible young men and women who will undoubtedly go on to do great things,” said Katherine Frattarola, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “A special congratulations to Matthew Sutherland on the accomplishment of winning the PURE Insurance Championship.”

Matthew Sutherland, a 17-year-old senior at Rio Americano High School, has been involved with The First Tee for 11 years. He volunteers weekly at The First Tee of Greater Sacramento as an assistant coach. Matthew holds a +1.0 handicap and recently committed to play golf at Fresno State in California. The nephew of PGA TOUR Champions player Kevin Sutherland, Matthew grew up around golf but says it’s The First Tee where he learned how to act on and off the golf course, and learned how to be a leader.

The First Tee of Greater Sacramento is one of 150 chapters across The First Tee network and reaches more than 50,000 youth annually. They offer programs at area golf facilities, at schools through The First Tee National School Program, and at youth centers through The First Tee DRIVE.

To learn more, visit www.PUREInsuranceChampionship.com, firsttee.org, and www.firstteesacramento.org.

About The First Tee

The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth sports organization whose mission is to grow the game of golf by transforming the experience that kids (and families) have with the sport. The First Tee is engaging the next generation of fans through unique golf experiences, signature events and strategic partnerships. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the sport of golf and The First Tee’s Nine Core Values to more than 15 million kids, positively impacting their lives along the way. The First Tee offers programs in all 50 states, reaching more than 5 million kids annually through: The National School Program in more than 10,000 elementary schools, 150 chapters at more than 1,200 golf courses and The First Tee DRIVE at 1,300 youth centers. The First Tee is expanding globally and currently offers programs at six international locations.

The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Golf Channel is The First Tee’s proud media partner and former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.

###

Contacts:

Jodi Davis
(201) 927-6171
[email protected]

Sara Henika
(904) 881-7398
[email protected]

The First Tee Selects 81 Junior Golfers to Compete in PURE Insurance Championship on PGA TOUR Champions

15^th Anniversary of the one-of-a-kind tournament featuring teen golfers from The First Tee playing alongside legends of the game at Pebble Beach to Air Internationally on Golf Channel

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida – PGA TOUR Champions and The First Tee announced today the 81 junior golfers selected to play in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will be held September 24-30 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, and will be televised internationally on Golf Channel.

The PURE Insurance Championship is the only event of its kind in which 81 junior golfers are teamed with 81 PGA TOUR Champions players and 162 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The juniors, ages 14 to 18, compete for the pro-junior title. Representing 22 states, the juniors were selected by a national panel of judges based on playing ability and application of the Nine Core Values and life skills learned through The First Tee’s programs.

The junior field was announced this morning on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive. The show included PGA TOUR winner Jason Gore, Web.com Tour member Cameron Champ, Arizona State University football coach Herm Edwards, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais and Golf Channel host Charlie Rymer, with 11 junior golfers receiving surprises informing them of their selection.

“We are proud to be a part of such a prestigious event that supports so many deserving young men and women from The First Tee throughout the country,” said Katherine Frattarola, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “They are what make this tournament so special, and it’s humbling to be a part of something that has such a profound impact on their lives both on and off the course.”

As of July 11, players committed to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship include defending champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer, as well as fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Sandy Lyle. Players have until Friday, September 21 to commit, with additional commitments to be announced in the coming months.

“We are proud of the junior golfers selected to play at this year’s PURE Insurance Championship,” said Keith Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee. “These 81 teens, and the event, embody The First Tee’s beliefs around the importance of fan engagement, diversity and inclusion and having a sense of civic responsibility that is expressed through our Nine Core Values.”

In this 15^th tournament year, more than 870 kids from The First Tee have played in the tournament, meeting and learning from PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs in the field while showcasing the Nine Core Values and the leadership and life skills they have acquired at The First Tee chapters.

Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the sport of golf and The First Tee’s Nine Core Values to more than 15 million kids, positively impacting their lives along the way. The First Tee’s Nine Core Values are: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of 10 national opportunities provided by The First Tee headquarters to encourage and motivate kids as they progress through the program and toward high school graduation.

Clint Eastwood is chairman of the event. Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course on Friday and Saturday, with the final round contested solely at Pebble Beach on Sunday.

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

To learn more about The First Tee, please visit TheFirstTee.org.

The First Tee participants selected to play in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship:

View Selected participants

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
Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is a member-owned reciprocal insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. PURE provides customizable coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft, flood, fraud and cyber fraud to more than 75,000 responsible, high net worth families throughout the U.S. Inspired by some of the finest policyholder-owned companies, PURE emphasizes alignment of interests and transparency. PURE’s low cost of capital, careful member selection and proactive risk management all contribute to highly competitive rates. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. PURE membership is subject to an executed Subscriber’s Agreement & Power of Attorney. For more information or to find a local broker, visit pureinsurance.com. You can follow PURE on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth sports organization whose mission is to grow the game of golf by transforming the experience that kids (and families) have with the sport. The First Tee is engaging the next generation of fans through unique golf experiences, signature events and strategic partnerships. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the sport of golf and The First Tee’s Nine Core Values to more than 15 million kids, positively impacting their lives along the way. The First Tee offers programs in all 50 states, reaching more than 5 million kids annually through: The National School Program in more than 10,000 elementary schools, 150 chapters at more than 1,200 golf courses and The First Tee DRIVE at 1,300 youth centers. The First Tee is expanding globally and currently offers programs at six international locations.

About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 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. In 2018, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 27 tournaments across the United States, Scotland and Canada, with purses totaling more than $56 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. 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. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 350 million potential households. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @championstour.

Alumnus Derrick Ow Welcomes Participants to Pebble Beach

Playing championship golf at Pebble Beach is an opportunity not many will experience in their lifetime. Eighty-two juniors golfers from The First Tee are in for one legendary week as they arrive in California for the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee.

With the tournament kicking off in just a few days, one alumnus of The First Tee has a message to each junior golfer. Derrick Ow knows firsthand what it feels like to play alongside PGA TOUR Champions at the iconic course, teeing off with professional golfer Michael Allen in 2015.

Here is what Derrick wants to share with this year’s junior field.

Welcome to Pebble Beach!

Congratulations on being one of 82 junior participants to play in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee at Pebble Beach! It is a remarkable achievement not only in your junior golf career, but also for the rest of your life. No matter what your score is on the scorecard, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And, in a blink of an eye, it will all be over. Enjoy the week and all of the festivities that come with it and soak up the scenic atmosphere at Pebble Beach.

My name is Derrick Ow, an alumnus of The First Tee of Monterey County (class of 2016) and I was in your shoes two years ago. Almost every participant who advances in The First Tee wants to play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where PGA TOUR legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Tiger Woods have won US Open titles. Although I did not make the cut when I played in this event, nor was shown on TV, the one-on-one experience I had with my pro was out of this world. Regardless of if you’re paired with a major champion, a Hall of Fame member or a player trying to add to his legacy (or all three!), be sure to learn as much as you can from him.

Here is some advice for you to consider throughout the week.

#1. Be a sponge.

Soak up the advice that your pro gives you – golf or life advice. Do not be afraid to ask questions about how they started golf, which is their favorite course or which sports teams they like the best. Remember, they are human just like you and me, so don’t be shy at all.

#2. Always smile and create friendships.

If you have a bad round, just remember how you got here and where you came from. You are inside the ropes, and you’re the main attraction. When they announce your name on the first tee, make sure you wave to the crowd no matter how big or small and always tip your cap when the spectators clap for a good shot.

#3. Create new friendships with fellow juniors.

Make sure you take a lot of selfies and post them on your various social media platforms (it will double your followers and likes!). After the event, make sure you keep in touch with them because you never know when the friends you made this week could change your life forever.

Again, congratulations on making it to this life-changing event. I wish you nothing but the best of luck going forward as you continue to make history on and off the golf course.

Warm Regards,

Derrick Ow
Alumnus, The First Tee of Monterey County

4 Tips I Learned While Playing Golf with PGA TOUR Champion Jay Haas

Kendel Abrams, a participant from The First Tee of Greater Baltimore, was one of 81 junior golfers selected to play in the 2016 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

She was paired with PGA TOUR Champions player Jay Haas and had the amazing opportunity to learn from him during their rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Here’s what Kendel learned from Jay.

written by Kendel Abrams, The First Tee of Greater Baltimore

How would you like to play in the Nature Valley First Open at Pebble Beach after being hand-selected from teenagers all across the country? Well…I actually had this opportunity along with 80 other participants from The First Tee. I not only learned skills on the course, but I also took a few of these lessons home with me.

Many of you may be familiar with PGA TOUR Champion Jay Haas, but in case you forgot, he’s one of the nicest professionals I’ve ever met (whose son also happens to be PGA TOUR player, Bill Haas). He and I were paired for the 2016 Nature Valley First Open at Pebble Beach tournament and throughout the two days, Jay and I played some great golf and benefited from each other’s momentum.

He taught me the following four tips that not only improved my game, but also changed my outlook as I play.

Tip #1

There may be times where the golf gods decide to give you a bad lie or two. As any amateur would, your mind tells you to swing and hope for the best. Nine out of ten times it probably won’t end up where you expected to. Luckily, Jay was there to share ways as to how to approach these shots. For example, when hitting a shot where your ball is sitting down in tall grass around the green, try opening up your club face while rotating your arms through the shot rather than trying to add more loft which can lead to the flipping of the wrist. This piece of advice has helped both my trouble shots as well as my feel for pitch shots.

Tip #2

Whether you are chipping with a sand wedge or short iron, it is crucial to keep your lower body as stable as possible. The next time you decide to work on your chipping, try to maintain an athletic stance throughout the shot. Jay shared with me that keeping my knees flexed can benefit not only my game as a whole but also save strokes in the long run. Even before a round, practice the position in which your club bottoms out to improve your chip shots.

Tip #3

Mastering a solid stroke can be hard for many amateurs, but making it consistent is even harder. Jay typically practices with a golf ball marked with a straight line around its circumference to visualize what the ball should look like following a true roll. Start by drawing a line around your ball and practice seeing the ball maintain its roll with a smooth tempo. It can shave strokes off your game while improving your confidence over a putt tremendously.

Tip #4

Don’t forget that your partner will always be there for you, just like you will be for them. Jay taught me that throughout your round, the golf ball may have its own mind, but it is important to not let that affect your performance. Try to find a time in your round to re-collect yourself and focus what you originally set out to accomplish. There will be times where you may not meet your expectations set forth, but you have to realize you can only control what you are doing. It is up to you to keep encouraging both you and your teammate so you can both bounce back from mistakes.

Kendel Abrams_Pro Jay Haas_09 — Jay and Kendel

PURE Insurance announced as title sponsor of annual PGA TOUR Champions event at Pebble Beach Golf Links

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2016

Contact: Stewart Moore, PGA TOUR, 904.540.2765, [email protected]

The First Tee to continue as beneficiary of newly-named PURE Insurance Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR and Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance today announced an agreement making the policyholder-owned property & casualty insurer for high net worth families the title sponsor of the longstanding PGA TOUR Champions event contested annually at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif.

The newly-named PURE Insurance Championship will continue to bring together the Legends of the game alongside top juniors from The First Tee, with a four-year agreement in place through 2020. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation will serve as the event’s host organization.

“We are pleased to introduce PURE Insurance as the new title sponsor of one of our most cherished events, contested annually on one of the most iconic venues in golf,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Greg McLaughlin. “PURE is recognized nationally for their uncompromising commitment to excellence in the insurance industry, and their values pair with our efforts in putting forth quality competition and charitable impact to create a successful partnership.”

Formed in 2006 by industry veterans with unique expertise in high net worth insurance, PURE is the only national insurer exclusively dedicated to protecting the property and liability of high net worth individuals and families. PURE’s unique combination of exceptional service, specialized coverage and significant savings has helped the insurer grow by 40% or more each year since inception.

“Becoming the title sponsor of this prestigious PGA TOUR Champions event supports our efforts to increase awareness of PURE and strengthen our leading position in the high net worth insurance category,” said Ross Buchmueller, President & CEO of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “Collaborating with the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and The First Tee to impact thousands of lives makes this sponsorship tremendously rewarding for our entire team.”

The format for the PURE Insurance Championship will remain the same, with 78 PGA TOUR Champions players, 78 young men and women ages 14 to 18 from First Tee chapters around the country and 156 amateurs competing over 54 holes of tournament play, split between both Pebble Beach and Poppy Hills.

The First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization with golf programs centered on building character through Nine Core Values™: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

The 78 juniors are selected annually by a national panel of judges that evaluate participants’ playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and core values learned through their involvement with The First Tee.

“This is an incredibly important tournament for The First Tee,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., CEO of The First Tee. “For the participants, this experience is a game-changer as it opens their eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond. For The First Tee, the tournament serves as a platform to share our mission. We are delighted that PURE Insurance will become a title sponsor of this PGA TOUR Champions event.”

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation will serve as host organization of the PURE Insurance Championship, with Clint Eastwood continuing his role as chairman of the event, and World Golf Hall of Fame member and Trustee of The First Tee Arnold Palmer serving as honorary co-chair.

The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) focused on enhancing quality of life in Monterey County and surrounding areas through the strategic disbursement of charitable funds generated by hosting both the PURE Insurance Championship and the PGA TOUR’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Since 2004, the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee has been one of the most exciting stops on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule, producing champions such as World Golf Hall of Fame member Hale Irwin (2005), Jeff Sluman (2008, 2009, 2011), Kirk Triplett (2012, 2013) and Paul Broadhurst (2016).

For more information on the PURE Insurance Championship, please visit PureInsuranceChampionship.com.

For more information on The First Tee, please visit TheFirstTee.org.

About PURE

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is a policyholder-owned insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. PURE provides best-in-class, customizable coverage throughout the U.S. for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft and flood. Having grown by more than 40% every year since inception, today PURE insures more than 55,000 responsible, high net worth families. Inspired by some of the finest policyholder-owned companies in the world, PURE emphasizes alignment of interests and transparency. PURE’s low cost of capital, careful member selection, and proactive risk management all contribute to highly competitive rates. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. For more information or to find a local broker, visit pureinsurance.com.

About PGA TOUR Champions

PGA TOUR Champions has the most recognizable and accomplished players in the game, with many of its 34 members in the World Golf Hall of Fame competing regularly in its events. It’s where Legends play. The Tour also counts numerous other major championship winners among its members. PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000. PGA TOUR Champions primary purpose 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, protect the integrity of the game and generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays. Points earned in official Charles Schwab Cup events in 2015 determined Bernhard Langer as the Charles Schwab Cup champion. In 2016, the newly-introduced Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs will identify and recognize the Tour’s leading player. The Commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Greg McLaughlin is President of PGA TOUR Champions. The PGA TOUR’s website is pgatour.com, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Follow the PGA TOUR Champions at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions and on Twitter @ChampionsTour.

About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States and select international locations. In 2015, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 4.7 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.

About Monterey Peninsula Foundation