Category: Events

Where are they now: First Tee National Championship winners 

First Tee returns to Clemson University this year for its 4th annual National Championship. This year’s field includes 24 boys and 24 girls from First Tee chapters across the country to experience what golf looks like at the next level.

In addition to showcasing their skills and perseverance on the course, players will also attend a golf careers panel and a keynote address from First Tee alumnus Gavin Parker. 

This year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamecast, and you can follow scoring on Golf Genius. 

Before we head to Clemson, we caught up with our past winners to see what they’re up to. 

Ashton Harper  
First Tee — Roanoke Valley 

Ashton won the inaugural First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and is now a member of the golf team at Virginia Tech, where he is majoring in business. Ashton said his experience with First Tee taught him valuable lessons in perseverance. “Golf is not a game of perfect, and there will always be ups and downs when playing this game, but they are magnified in tournaments due to the high stakes. I was able to use perseverance to fight these ups and downs,” he said. 

Ashton aims to become an All-ACC player by the end of his tenure at Virginia Tech before going on to play professionally. 

Symran Shah 
First Tee — Greater Dallas 

Like Ashton, Symran won the First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and now plays golf at Virginia Tech. She studies business and plans to have a career in healthcare administration. 

Hannah Lydic 
First Tee — Delaware 

Hannah won the 2022 First Tee National Championship held at Notre Dame and is now a member of the golf team at the University of Richmond, majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Her experience in the First Tee National Championship taught her patience and perseverance in both herself and her game, she said. 

As a Spider, she’s won awards for golf and academics. “What’s cool about the game of golf is that if you play calm and treat your playing partners with kindness, you will ultimately have a better experience on the course which will allow you to play at a higher level,” she said. Because of her experience with First Tee coaches, she fell in love with golf and now has the goal to become a collegiate golf coach. 

Hunter Swanson 
First Tee — Green Valley Ranch 

Hunter won the First Tee National Championship at Notre Dame in 2022 and is now a business student and member of the golf team at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Hunter lost to Ashton in a playoff at the 2021 First Tee National Championship, which inspired him to have the perseverance to come back and win at Notre Dame and taught him how to be more comfortable in high stress situations, he said.  

As a college golfer, Hunter said the most important lesson he learned from First Tee is confidence. “I find I play more relaxed and have a better game when I practice enough to believe in my abilities,” he said. Since winning the First Tee National Championship, Hunter has made the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, been a Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Week and the Nevada State Amateur runner up. 

Megan Meng  
First Tee — Greater Trenton 

Megan won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and is preparing to begin her college golf career at Northwestern, where she’ll study economics. Her experience playing in the First Tee National Championship challenged her to be hardworking and patient. She said she continues to use other First Tee lessons. “I find that it is important to always apply respect, sportsmanship and courtesy to those you are playing with,” said Megan, who also won the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship. 

Recently, Megan was a member of Team USA at the 2023 Junior Solheim Cup and a 2023 Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American. She’s currently in the Top 10 of the AJGA Rankings and plans to pursue professional golf. 

Cooper Groshart 
First Tee — Central Coast 

Cooper won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and now attends California State East Bay, as a business administration major and a member of the golf team. Confidence is a First Tee lesson that Cooper keeps with him today while playing competitive golf. His experience in the First Tee National Championship was inspiring, as he saw so many people from different places share the same drive to compete and succeed in golf, he said.  

Cooper played in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur in Charleston. As a freshman, he competed in 12 tournaments with his college team and has been on the dean’s list both semesters. He said his goal is to continue to improve as a player and a person. 

Learn more about the First Tee National Championship.

First Tee College Scholarship Program celebrates first graduating class 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (May 14, 2024) – Four years ago, President George W. Bush had a big surprise for seven exemplary First Tee participants. First Tee’s honorary chair told the teens they were selected as inaugural members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Now the organization is thrilled to celebrate their graduation. 

“Congratulations to the first graduating class of First Tee College Scholarship Program,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are very proud of your hard work and commitment, and we look forward to watching you move into the next stages of your journey. First Tee is proud to have played a role in your development.” 

“First Tee is family,” said Ricky Lam, a First Tee Scholar who is graduating from Harvard University and pursuing a career in insurance. “Ultimately First Tee is a place where you have such a strong support system to be able to pursue your passions, ask for help, expand your horizons and network so you can be the person you strive to be.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program is a need- and merit-based scholarship program through which Scholars receive financial support and access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Each Scholar is paired with an adult mentor to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful in college and beyond. 

“The First Tee College Scholarship Program really helped me find connections, especially with my mentor,” said Malisone Chanthanpanya, now a graduate student and member of the golf team at Texas Wesleyan University. Mali is one of three Scholars who graduated early to bring the total number of graduated First Tee Scholars to 10. “She was a great resource who I could talk to about not just college and my career but about life. I got to meet a lot of people through the scholarship program.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program was launched in 2020, and it recognizes First Tee participants who have shown dedication to academics, community service and their First Tee chapters. It has since grown to include 70 Scholars, with the 2024 class slated to be announced next month.  

Meet the graduates: 

Luke Boldt 
First Tee – Coastal Carolina / East Carolina University 
He has accepted a position as a medical missionary for two years and plans to apply to medical school. 

Malisone Chanthanpanya 
First Tee – Fort Worth / Texas Wesleyan University 
She’s in graduate school and prepping for LPGA Q-school in the fall.  

Jessica Jiao 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Georgetown University  
She has accepted a position with BNP Paribas Bank in its equity capital markets department in New York. 

Ricky Lam 
First Tee–Tri-Valley / Harvard University 
He has accepted a position with Sompo as a commercial underwriter.  

Kelly Low 
First Tee – Fort Worth / University of Texas at Dallas 
She has accepted an offer with Amazon Web Services as an associate solutions architect in Austin. 

Nicole Monsalve 
First Tee – Miami / Duke University 
She has accepted a position with the NFL in its two-year rotation program in New York. 

Sara Rintoul  
First Tee – Central Florida / University of Florida 
She has accepted an offer at Proctor & Gamble as a brand manager in Boston. 

Remi Shendell 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Emory University 
She is graduating with a double-major in biology and political science. 

Borina Sutiko  
First Tee – Silicon Valley / Santa Clara University 
She hopes to attend Cal Berkely this fall to earn her master’s in information systems.  

Denise Wei 
First Tee – San Francisco / University of California, Irvine 
She has accepted an offer with PwC in its audit division. 

Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League First Tee Golf Clinic

On Saturday, April 27, we held a First Tee golf clinic for Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (PAAL).  We had 24 kids from the PAAL program & Santa Ana community participate at Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim.  They learned about a key life skill, using perseverance: to commit & don’t quit.  They also learned some golf skills like clubface awareness by spending time at the driving range, putting green & chipping area.  For many of the kids, it provides an opportunity to be exposed to golf and they used perseverance to hit, chip & putt while having fun!

First Tee 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 life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

The Police Athletic & Activity League is a comprehensive community program that helps setup kids for success & creates healthy, positive relationships between kids, families and police officers that serve in their city.  They believe building these relationships is what creates a better COMMUNITY for all those who call Santa Ana their home.

Golf Clinic for CIBD (Center for Inherited Blood Disorders)

On Sunday, February 2nd, CIBD participated in a First Tee golf clinic at PGA Superstore in Irvine.  They learned about life skills such as perseverance, commit & don’t quit.  In addition, they learned golf skills by spending time at the golf simulator & putting green.  For many of the kids, it was their first opportunity to be exposed to golf, but with the help of First Tee coaches & volunteers, they were able to learn how to hit & putt while having fun!

First Tee 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 life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) is the only licensed freestanding clinic in California specializing in bleeding disorders. Their mission is to help people with Blood Disorders thrive.

A FTOC Game Changer

Rosie recently turned 11 years old and decided to donate her birthday money to First Tee – Orange County. Rosie has been a participant in the First Tee – Orange County program since January 2016, right before she turned 3 years old.  Her golf clubs were bigger than her!  Rosie has always had a passion for the First Tee program.  Now as a mentor to the players in the program, Rosie is enjoying being a junior coach.

With her contribution, Rosie is now a donor as she is helping our fundraising efforts for our scholarship program which helps those families that may need financial assistance for their child to attend First Tee classes.  Rosie’s parents, Patrick & Jen, are amazing, long term volunteers with our program.  They were so moved by their daughter’s desire to donate her birthday money to First Tee – Orange County, they matched Rosie’s contribution.  

A big “THANK YOU” to Rosie and her family as we continue “Building Game Changers” like Rosie at First Tee – Orange County!

Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League First Tee Golf Clinic

On Saturday, November 11th, 27 youth from Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (PAAL) participated in a First Tee golf clinic at Willowick Golf Course in Anaheim.  They learned about life skills such as being responsible and respecting the rules.  They also learned some golf skills by spending time at the driving range, putting green & chipping area.  For many of the kids, it was their first opportunity to be exposed to golf, but with the help of First Tee coaches & volunteers, they were able to learn how to hit, chip & putt while having fun!

About First Tee – Orange County

First Tee 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 life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

About PAAL

The Police Athletic & Activity League is a comprehensive community program that helps setup kids for success & creates healthy, positive relationships between kids, families and police officers that serve in their city.  They believe building these relationships is what creates a better COMMUNITY for all those who call Santa Ana their home.

Looking to partner with First Tee – Orange County?

Please contact [email protected] or call 714-833-8221 to learn more!

28 First Tee teens to develop impactful community service projects during Innovators Forum featuring Billy Horschel

Up to $32,000 in scholarships will be awarded to participants whose projects generate the greatest impact

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – (Nov. 9, 2023) – Twenty-eight exemplary teens from across the U.S. will attend the First Tee Innovators Forum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home of the PGA TOUR, from Nov. 9-12. Each student will spend four days conceptualizing an original community service project with guidance from First Tee and its partners. Participants will then implement the projects when they return home, with the opportunity to earn a share of up to $32,000 to support future educational pursuits.

During the event, participants will hear from seven-time PGA TOUR winner Billy Horschel, who has demonstrated his commitment to growing diversity in golf and supporting his neighbors in northeast Florida through his own philanthropic endeavors. The teens will participate in interactive workshops and small breakout sessions covering a variety of topics including education, healthcare advocacy and programming. 

They will also learn about sustainability on an eco-cruise through the estuaries of nearby St. Augustine with support from TruGreen and receive counsel on their projects from technology consulting firm CapTech, both First Tee Trustees.

Parts of the event will take place at PGA TOUR Global Home and TPC Sawgrass. The purpose of the event is to encourage participants to become innovators in their respective communities, culminating with each teen presenting the plans for their project.

“Our participants have produced creative and impactful community service projects since this event launched – addressing issues like food insecurity and environmental sustainability – and we look forward to seeing what this group of impressive teens will uncover throughout the event week,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Thank you to Doug MacKenzie for making this event possible, and for our partners CapTech and TruGreen for participating in the experience.”

The 28 teens attending the forum were selected based on academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation.   

First Tee is a youth development organization teaching life skills and helping kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The First Tee Innovators Forum is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward high school graduation.

For more information, visit 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 kids and teens 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.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters

October 15, 2023

First Tee OC partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters on October 15th at Willowick Golf Course, emphasizing the core value of collaborating with other. The event had the bigs and littles of big brothers big sisters on the range, putting green, and chipping green focusing on target awareness! Participants of all ages learned the significance of working together, fostering teamwork, and communication.

Recap: High School/College Golf Panel Discussion

September 24, 2023

Thanks so much to the ~70 participants who attended the high school/college golf panel discussion. We learned so much & the heightened clarity about our kids’ future journey in golf was priceless. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a summary of what was discussed:

Ethan Gomez – El Dorado High School Golf Team

  • His school has both JV & Varsity teams. Some schools only have Varsity
  • In general, +6 or better in 9 holes to qualify into Varsity Team and Bogey golf in 9 holes on JV
  • 6-8 players/team. ~6 play against other school in a match. Some spots are assigned based on practice results
  • During season can have 1-4 matches in a week, more during height of the season. Also 2-4 days of practice a week (typically practice on days with no matches). They generally play Monday through Thursday and have Friday and the weekend off; but coach still wants them to practice on their own.
  • Generally little time for social life during golf season; but season is short so overall balances out well

Craig Tagler – Western High School Golf Coach

  • Girls season in Fall; Boys in Spring
  • HS cannot contact player until after 8th grade graduation. However, a player can inquire about a HS golf program 
  • Schools typically have 7-8 matches per season, but some up to 22 per season
  • Quality of golf team varies greatly from year to year depending on experience of players coming in. Strong team if it has returning experienced players
  • Not a spectator sport; inability to sell tickets means there needs to be fundraisers etc. Players’ parents or coach have to transport to tournaments; at his school, the coach transports everyone.  
  • If your HS don’t have a team, you can still qualify for CIF in open qualification
  • At CIF playoffs, maybe only 25% of players break 100.

Chloe Carraway – Long Beach State Golf Team (Division 1)

  • No tryout for college. Players are usually recruited. Must meet athletic grade and course requirements in order to be in college golf
  • Coaches usually look at scores from outside events like SCPGA and AJGA
  • High School Golf teams skill level varies a lot so outside events are better gauge of a player’s ability
  • In season: 20 hrs/week practice. Off season 8 hrs/week. Practice consists of play, range, putt, weights (strength) and core training
  • Fall and Spring season
  • A lot of traveling in season so invariably will miss a lot of school. Typically 3 rounds of golf per tournament plus travel time.
  • It is player’s responsibility to make-up, but school does offer lots of resources to help. Must maintain GPA in order to stay on team
  • Some team even have strict dietary requirements in season or during tournament (Chloe’s team – no sweets!)
  • The intensity of practice regimen & tournament schedule makes it common that players suffer injuries. Chloe had surgery on her wrist & is still recovering; it’s a mixed bag of emotions being part of the team & yet not able to contribute, so she finds other roles to play ie. 

Bob Bosanko – Saddleback College Golf Coach

  • Use Fieldlevel App to create your athletic profile; coaches search for candidates inside the database
  • Swing video not that important, more interested in tournament record
  • Golf results on tournaments – best to maintain hole by hole score
  • Outside non-HS tournaments are heavily used to evaluate a player ability
  • Good idea to maintain USGA Handicap
  • Grades are important – must meet requirement before even getting on a team
  • Most schools have online applications; no tryout
  • Personal character is important; sportsmanship & attitude
  • Coaches look for progress in golf game from HS onward/grow year after year
  • Within a D1 school, individual scores can vary between 40-50 strokes
  • Reality check – in his 40+ years of coaching 300K+ students, only 1 turned pro (Cameron T.)

Final words of wisdom

  • Mental part of the game just as if not more important; be able to recover from a bad shot/round without being rattled. Able to maintain score even when game/swing is not working
  • Believe in yourself no matter what etc.; the mental game is the part that’s not taught much in school
  • Spend least amount of time with your driver; most amount of time with your putter
  • Most of the scoring happens within 120 yards
  • There are 25,000 out there who have better game than the pros on Sunday afternoon. The difference is, the players who make it on Sunday afternoon can make those 6-ft putts to save par when under pressure

First Tee empowers 24 teenage girls through weeklong Academy made possible by John Deere

The national “Drive Your Future” event, held in San Francisco October 5-9, reinforces the organization’s commitment to empowering girls  

San Francisco – (October 2, 2023) – Twenty-four girls, ages 14-18, from First Tee chapters across the country are attending First Tee Drive Your Future Academy presented by John Deere in San Francisco, October 5-9. The all-female professional development academy focuses on empowering the girls to leverage opportunities available through their participation in golf and First Tee and recognize the importance of building a strong network.  

Throughout the weeklong academy, the girls will participate in interactive workshops, lead a volunteer experience, and hear from keynote speakers designed to inspire and help them as they plan for the future. Speakers, each who represent careers in STEM, include Susan Crickenberger, People & Operations at John Deere, Michelle Meyer, Managing Director of Supply Chain, Distribution & Logistics at CapTech, and First Tee alumnae Angelica Harris and Taryn Yee.

The event will be hosted at historic Lake Merced Golf Club where participants will build upon their connections and hear different perspectives from peers from around the country. Additionally, the group will have the opportunity to bond over inspiring and impactful experiences around the San Francisco area.

The event reinforces First Tee’s commitment to empowering girls through its programs, which are offered through 150 chapters in 1400 golf course locations. More than 80% of chapters offer dedicated programming for girls, intentionally inviting and engaging them in a variety of opportunities. Girls who stay in First Tee programs have the opportunity to apply for all national events, including Drive Your Future.  

“At John Deere, we run so life can leap forward,” said John Watson, project development manager, John Deere. “That includes partnering with organizations like First Tee to provide life-changing opportunities for today’s youth. It is an honor to continue the successful tradition of the Drive Your Future Academy and we are thrilled to support First Tee in developing the leaders of tomorrow.”  

The teens were selected for the Drive Your Future Academy through a national application process based on essays, letters of recommendation, and involvement in First Tee and other activities.  

“First Tee’s Drive Your Future Academy focuses on female empowerment and focuses on the leadership development of our young women,” said Jennifer Weiler, senior vice president of network relations at First Tee. “We are so grateful for John Deere’s support of this event and together, we are committed to building game changers.”

John Deere is a Trustee of First Tee and has supported the organization since 2012. 

First Tee is a youth development organization celebrating over 25 years of teaching life skills and helping kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The First Tee Drive Your Future Academy made possible by John Deere 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.   

MEDIA CONTACT:   

Megan Hart, First Tee   
[email protected] 
(904) 940-4348 

Stewart, Casolari win Pro-Junior titles at 2023 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2023) – After a week of competition and mentorship, Alyssa Stewart and Brayden Casolari are the junior winners of the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded Sunday at Pebble Beach. 

Alyssa Stewart representing First Tee – Greater Dallas and paired with Justin Leonard, and Brayden Casolari representing First Tee – Pine Mountain and paired with Brian Gay, claimed the female and male Pro-Junior titles, respectively. Stewart and Leonard finished 28-under, while Casolari and Gay capped off the event 21-under, climbing three spots up the leaderboard Sunday to clinch the victory. 

Stewart and Leonard took the lead Saturday after recording a 59 at Spyglass Hill and extended their advantage Sunday, shooting a 63 at Pebble Beach. Meanwhile, Casolari and Gay birdied 18 on Sunday to secure their come-from-behind victory in the Pro-Junior competition, shooting an 8-under 64 at Pebble Beach.

In its 20th year, the PURE Insurance Championship brings First Tee participants from chapters across the country to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, where they demonstrate the skills and values they’ve practiced at First Tee to play alongside PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business world. The annual event was televised internationally on Golf Channel.

“The 80 players in the junior field represented First Tee well this week,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Our program aims to instill confidence and perseverance in the young people it serves, and I think those traits were on display during the tournament. A special congratulations to Alyssa and Brayden 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 week an unforgettable experience for our participants.”

Stewart is a 17-year-old high school senior who is committed to play golf next year at Houston Christian University. With a +3.9 handicap, Stewart has set records at two courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She aspires to play on the LPGA Tour and become a veterinarian. 

“I feel amazing right now,” Stewart said after her victory. “Words can’t even describe it. I just have a lot of thanks for my mom, PURE Insurance, First Tee and the PGA TOUR Champions players. Something that I learned this week is that you can’t really dwell on one shot. You have to move forward.”

Casolari is a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Cumberland, Kentucky. He took up golf 8 years ago at Lynch Country Club in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky after borrowing a set of left-handed clubs. Casolari volunteers with the Empty Stocking Fund and Tri-City Little League. He aspires to play collegiate golf and works at a local course. His trip to the PURE Insurance Championship was his first time traveling by airplane. 

“This has been a great experience,” said Casolari. “This is my first time out there, and I love this course. My pro and I hit some good shots out there.”

During the week, First Tee partners PURE Insurance and Chevron both celebrated their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raised additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program through special events. Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Aditi Balakrishna, a high school senior from First Tee – Tri-Valley in Northern California. 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. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 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

Surpassing $200 million in total donations, Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties.

www.montereypeninsulafoundation.org
www.attpbgolf.com
www.pureinsurancechampionship.org

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.

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2023 FTOC Coaches’ League

The 2023 Season of First Tee – Orange County’s “Coaches’ League” wrapped up on Sunday with the 18-hole finale at beautiful Tustin Ranch Golf Course. The FTOC Coaches’ League is a yearlong competitive opportunity in which a handful of FTOC Coaches select participants to represent their team.

Participants got to play 8 head-to-head matches from March-October this year at different golf courses throughout Orange County including Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Strawberry Farms, Oak Creek & more! Teams earn points for each win, tie, or high finish. At the end of this year’s competition, Coach Nick’s Red Team was crowned the champions after finishing with a “perfect” 12 point season. Congrats to Coach Nick, Julian, Luka, Airlia, Logan, Coco, Alyssa, Kiana, & Airden. There was a tie for 2nd place with 5.5 points with Coach Jacob’s Blue Crew winning the tie-breaker to claim the silver medals. Coach Tim’s Black Team were awarded the bronze medals.

At the end of the final round, each coach got the opportunity to select a “Player of the League”- a player that best exemplified the life skills and key commitments of First Tee while on the golf course during the year. Congrats to Airlia (red), Malia (blue), Cora (black), Kaitlyn (purple), and Varilyn (white).

An amazing effort by all the players this season. Keep up the great work!

Do you want to be considered for the Coaches' League Team in the future?

If you participated in at least 2 FTOC sessions/camps in 2023 and would like to be considered to compete in the 2024 FTOC Coaches’ League, we encourage you to attend our tryouts/skills showcase with the Coaches on Saturday, January 6 @ 10am at Islands Golf Center. More information on registration coming soon!