Category: News Releases

Clemson, South Carolina (June 27, 2024) – Norah Yang of Los Altos, California, and Trent Mierl of Austin, Texas, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the 4^th annual First Tee National Championship at the Walker Course at Clemson University. The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level. 

Yang finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side. She is a rising high school senior with a 4.0 GPA. She’s been a volunteer coach at First Tee – Silicon Valley for three years and finished 3^rd at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with professional players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach.  

“It has been amazing playing at Clemson this week,” Yang said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee and all the skills they have taught me.” 

Mierl, who will play golf at the University of Missouri next year, shot a blistering 65 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. He’s been a member of First Tee for nine years and is a volunteer coach at his chapter. He’s the only player to compete in all four First Tee National Championships, with the inaugural event taking place in 2021, and said it was special to win in his final attempt. 

“I came up one shot short of the playoffs in the first National Championship,” he said. “I’ve met great people here and made so many great memories. This is my favorite junior golf event, and it feels like I came full circle in my final chance to win at the same golf course where I fell just short.” 

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

Two players were also awarded exemptions to the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship. As First Tee juniors can only play in the PURE Insurance Championship once, this year’s exemptions went to Gianna Singh from First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Spencer Ives from First Tee – Naples/Collier. The tournament will be broadcast on Golf Channel, Sept. 20-22. 

Based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, two players will also earn spots in the PGA TOUR’s 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 two players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.

“Congratulations to all of our participants in the field and especially to Trent and Norah for an outstanding performance in becoming the 2024 First Tee National Champions,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This event plays an important role in helping these young people prepare for the next level. We are extremely proud of this event and of the teens who work hard on their game all year preparing. Thank you to Clemson University for hosting for the second time, we look forward to coming back again.”  

The 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. Next year’s event will take place at Notre Dame University. 
  
The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. 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 the first time, this year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamekast with live scoring available on Golf Genius. 

Clemson, South Carolina – (June 21, 2024) – The Walker Course at Clemson University will host the First Tee National Championship next week, June 25-27, 2024, bringing together 48 of the organization’s top golfers for a 54-hole event designed to showcase how the program has helped them build the skills, positive attitude and perseverance needed to play collegiate golf. 

The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. Fourteen players in the field have already committed to college golf teams. First Tee held its inaugural National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and all six of the past winners are members of college golf teams. That includes 2023 winner Megan Meng of First Tee – Greater Trenton, who’s in the Top 10 in the AJGA Rankings and will begin her collegiate career at Northwestern this fall. 

In advance of this year’s competition, the event will feature a keynote address by First Tee – Greater Richmond alumnus Gavin Parker, PGA, who shares his love for the sport on his popular social media channels. Participants will also attend a careers in golf panel to learn more about working in the industry. 

“First Tee continues to play an important role in the development of teens, both on and off the course,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Our National Championship is an opportunity for participants who want to take their game to the next level to showcase their skills. The week provides them with competition and an enriching opportunity to get them ready for playing in college and beyond.” 

For the first time, viewers can stream the First Tee National Championship on Gamekast. Scoring will also be available on Golf Genius. 

In addition to crowning a male and female tournament winner, one boy and one girl from the field will be awarded spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, a player development program that aims to achieve greater diversity in golf through an increased focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups.  

First Tee – Greater Austin’s Danica Lundgren earned a spot in the Pathways program at last year’s National Championship, held at Stanford University. She’s back in the tournament field this year before joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s golf team this fall. 

Two exemptions to this year’s PURE Insurance Championship will also be up for grabs. The PGA TOUR Champions event pairs pro and junior players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach each September. 

The 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. Next year’s event will take place at the University of Notre Dame. 

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.  

View the full list of selected participants here.  

 Members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program receive financial support, mentorship and professional development opportunities. 

 Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (June 4, 2024) – First Tee is thrilled to welcome 24 new members to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Entering its fifth year, the program recently celebrated its first graduating class, and now boasts 94 current or former members. Like those who have come before them, each of the new First Tee Scholars has shown dedication to school, extracurriculars, volunteerism and especially First Tee, averaging 9.5 years of involvement with the youth development organization. 

The 14 young women and 10 young men who comprise the 2024 Scholar class were selected from a pool of 150 applicants. They boast an average GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1350. Ten members of the new class are participants in the Ace Program, First Tee’s capstone experience. Four plan to play collegiate golf, including First Tee – West Virginia’s Argyle Downes, who will play Division I golf at Rutgers. 

Members of the First Tee College Scholarship program not only receive financial support, but they are also matched with an adult mentor and provided annual professional development opportunities. 

“Spring is an exciting time of the year when we welcome a new group of First Tee Scholars,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “The scholarship program has grown significantly since it launched in 2020 thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. We look forward to supporting our Scholars on their path to success.” 

Ten First Tee Scholars graduated from college this spring. Several plan to attend graduate or medical school, while others are starting careers with companies like AWS, BNP Paribas Bank, PwC, Procter & Gamble and the NFL. 

Participants across First Tee’s network submitted applications to be a part of the latest Scholar class. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee for one-on-one interviews. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, community service and other criteria. 

Congratulations to the 2024 First Tee Scholars: 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (Feb. 5, 2024) – For more than 25 years, First Tee has been helping kids and teens learn important life skills through golf. A lot has changed during that time, and First Tee has grown to meet the needs of children and families. The nonprofit worked with Bridgespan to evaluate its curriculum in 2019, and over the last five years, has rolled out updated branding and technology, including new apps for First Tee coaches and participants. Now, the latest step in this evolution includes revisions to the Ace Program, First Tee’s capstone project for teens. 

Thinking about the future can be intimidating, especially for teens who do not know what it holds or where to start.​ Ace is all about helping high schoolers game-plan for the future, encouraging them to use the values they developed at First Tee as they uncover their strengths, passions and priorities. 

“Growing up, I always had the general idea that I wanted to do well in school and in golf, but the thought of juggling both areas felt overwhelming,” said First Tee – Silicon Valley alumna Michelle Xie, a former collegiate golfer who now works as a software engineer. “Taking the time during the Ace program to not only define my specific goals, but also define the steps to achieve those goals made everything feel so much more attainable and under my control.” 

To achieve Ace, participants must complete four major projects centered on community service, career planning, education and golf, which are then reviewed by a national committee. The process is guided by trained coaches who mentor each Ace candidate. Participants must complete a minimum 48 hours of community service to achieve Ace, with at least half that time dedicated to a cause outside of First Tee. 

Ace was revised with feedback from First Tee chapters across the country. The most significant change includes updates to the golf project. Participants can now choose between competitive and social tracks depending on their future aspirations. One of the program’s central tenets is the belief that there is not one path to success.  

“We have been proud of the Ace Program and the many graduates we have had over the years. With these updates, we feel the program will become even more relevant and accessible to teens,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. 

Ace is open to all First Tee high schoolers who have been involved with the organization for at least three years. It typically takes one to two years to complete. 

PING will support First Tee headquarters and local chapters through its donation.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. and Phoenix, Ariz. – (Jan. 31, 2024) – Youth development organization First Tee is pleased to announce that PING, a premier golf equipment manufacturer, has signed on to support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to prepare the next generation for life on and off the golf course.

“We are very pleased to support the First Tee at the Trustee level,” said Stacey Solheim Pauwels, PING Executive Vice President. “Junior golf has always been important to PING and the Solheim family. Golf is a game that can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime and it teaches so many positive character-building lessons. Having the opportunity to play golf in your youth is a great advantage for an individual’s future, both in the game and in business. From a young age, my father and uncle, Allan and John Solheim, encouraged my brothers, cousins and I to play golf and we are forever grateful for the experience and friendships we still maintain from those early years. Over the course of the past decades, we have seen tremendous growth of the First Tee nationally as well as at our Phoenix chapter. We’ve had the opportunity to view first-hand its effective programing, outreach and the outstanding youth it has developed both in the game of golf and beyond. We look forward to playing a part in furthering the mission of the First Tee.”

A portion of PING’s donation will support ongoing education for staff and volunteers from First Tee’s 150 chapters across the globe. First Tee also offers programming at more than 11,000 schools and 2,000 youth centers, as well as national participant events, a college scholarship program and a vast network of alumni.

“We are excited to partner with PING, an organization that is committed to innovation, service and quality,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The needs of kids and families have evolved over the last 27 years and so has First Tee. We are grateful to PING for supporting our commitment to providing valuable learning experiences to children and teens from all backgrounds.”

With the support of Trustees like PING, First Tee uses golf as a vehicle to instill life skills and values in the kids and teens it serves. Through its character-building curriculum delivered by trained coaches, First Tee aims to prepare children for life, whatever they go on to do.

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation
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. Over more than 25 years, First Tee has reached 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 PING
PING designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, wedges, putters and golf bags. The family-owned company was founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries. His frustration with his putting inspired him to design his own putter, which created a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball. This sound was the source of the name now synonymous with innovation, quality and service throughout the world of golf. Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs.  His insistence on adhering to strict engineering principles and tight manufacturing tolerances raised the level of product performance and quality throughout the golf industry.  Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer. Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim’s grandson, John K. Solheim, who leads a team of more than 800 dedicated employees committed to helping improve the games of golfers around the world.

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Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (Jan. 18, 2024) – First Tee is pleased to announce that PGA TOUR player Alex Smalley has joined the nonprofit youth development organization as its newest ambassador.

In the role, Smalley will display the First Tee logo on his golf bag and promote the organization to help reach more kids and families with its character-building curriculum. 

Smalley had some experience with First Tee as a youth in North Carolina, but his professional connection to the organization began in 2023, when he played with three First Tee alumni during the pro-am at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte. Smalley, who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, also donated equipment to First Tee – Central Carolina. In his expanded role, Smalley will engage with First Tee participants both virtually and at tournaments, including at this week’s The American Express Golf Tournament at La Quinta Country Club in California, where Smalley and First Tee will formally kick off the partnership.

“Golf has had an incredible impact on my life,” Smalley said. “First Tee not only makes golf more accessible to kids from all backgrounds, but it also prepares children and teens for life beyond the golf course. I have had the opportunity to meet First Tee participants and alumni, and I have seen how the program has touched their lives. That is why I am excited to get involved.”

Smalley was a collegiate golf star at Duke University, where he was named ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2019. Smalley has represented the U.S. in the Walker and Palmer cups and has seven Top 10 finishes on the PGA TOUR, including his runner-up turn at the 2023 John Deere Classic. He finished No. 54 on the 2023 FedEx Cup in his sophomore season on the PGA TOUR.

Smalley joins Austin Smotherman, First Tee’s first official ambassador, in formally representing the organization. Smotherman is a professional golfer and First Tee – Greater Sacramento alumnus.

“We are excited that Alex has agreed to become a First Tee Ambassador and sees the impact that First Tee is having on young people today,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We know that playing on the PGA TOUR is demanding and the fact Alex is giving of his time to help the next generation speaks volumes about his own character, and we are pleased to partner with him.”

First Tee’s mission is to provide character-building experiences to kids from all backgrounds, using golf to teach life skills and values that children and teens will carry with them throughout their lives.