Category: News Releases

24 high school seniors selected for First Tee’s Scholar program, receiving mentorship, professional development and financial support 

Averaging nearly 10 years of First Tee participation, this year’s scholar class includes 3 first-generation students and 6 collegiate golfers 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (June 5, 2023) – The First Tee College Scholarship Program welcomes 24 new members to its 2023 class, bringing the total number of First Tee Scholars to 70. Each one of these scholars has demonstrated character and work ethic both on the golf course and in the classroom, which will help them succeed at schools across the country, including Howard University, the University of Southern California, Georgetown University, the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University. 

The class of 2023 – comprised of 14 young women and 10 young men – was selected from a competitive national pool of First Tee teens. This diverse group of Scholars represents 21 First Tee chapters across 18 states. The Scholars’ future aspirations range from becoming doctors and lawyers to studying economics, biometric engineering, computer science, professional golf management and journalism. Six plan to play collegiate golf.  

The First Tee College Scholarship Program aims to support alumni after high school graduation by pairing each Scholar with a trained adult mentor to provide guidance throughout their college careers and beyond. Each Scholar will also participate in professional development workshops and receive up to $5,000 per year towards tuition and expenses. 

First Tee re-launched its Scholar program in 2020 to further serve some of its most engaged participants after high school graduation. Texas Wesleyan University’s Malisone Chanthapanya recently became the first First Tee Scholar to graduate from college this May. She earned her degree in finance. 

“Welcome to our new class of Scholars and congratulations on being selected,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “The decision to embark on higher education is an important one and I am proud that First Tee can continue to support alumni through the process. Thank you to our partners who support the program and our mentors who provide year-round guidance.”  

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, volunteerism and other criteria.  

First Tee College Scholarship Class of 2023:  

  • Average years with First Tee: 9.6 
  • 3 first-generation college students 
  • 71% ethnically diverse 

2023 Collegiate Golfers:  

  • Jeremiah Brown, First Tee – Greater Philadelphia: Catholic University 
  • Mariane Johnson, First Tee – Gulf Coast: Palm Beach Atlantic University 
  • Kyzar Joshi, First Tee – Massachusetts: Hamilton College 
  • Falyn Lackey, First Tee – Southeastern New Mexico: Western New Mexico State University 
  • Colin Vineberg, First Tee – Greater Baltimore: Dickinson College 
  • Marlo Zamora, First Tee – Greater San Antonio: Trinity University 

The 2023 Scholar class includes: 

Daryn Dickens, First Tee – Greater Washington, DC  
Howard University; Major: History  
Daryn will be following in the footsteps of her mother, father and brother by attending Howard University where she will study history in preparation for law school. 

BJ Little, First Tee – Metro Atlanta  
Georgetown University; Major: Political Science  
BJ was the president of the Student Government Association, a member of the Black Student Union and started the golf team at his high school. 

Maria Ramos, First Tee – Greater Philadelphia  
University of Pennsylvania; Major: Engineering  
Maria is a first-generation college student that plans to study engineering; she has already been honored for her work with AI for creating a program that analyzes social media sentiments to predict stock market trends. 

Visit firsttee.org/college-scholarship to learn more about the program. Learn more about the 2023 Scholar class and download their headshots here. 

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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.   

Media Contact:  
Megan Hart, First Tee  
MeganHart@firsttee.org 

Volunteer Family Spotlight – The Lee Family

The Lee Family

In the spirit of National Volunteer Month, we would like to recognize the Lee family. Patrick, Jen, Jenson and Rosie have been a part of First Tee for 7 years. Each family member has a particular role as a volunteer including coaching, assisting with events and tournaments, and joining a team of parents to form our parent council.

We are extremely grateful to have an amazing family be a part of the First Tee – Orange County family and we look forward to many more years of their volunteer service.

COACH PATRICK

Pat picked up golf in his 30’s inspired by his late aunt who held multiple Ladies Champion titles at Hong Kong Golf Club. Pat met FTOC in 2015 at Roger Dunn and has been a committed coach since. Pat’s favorite part about FTOC is watching the participants grow and uncover their talents in golf and in life. In our pre-kids days, Pat had golf ball favors inscribed “Awesome Twosome” made for our wedding and dragged Jen out to play 9 holes every Saturday morning at 6am. Pat works as a computer and memory chip designer.

COACH JEN

Jen started learning golf in college and saw it pay off when she’d represent Deloitte to play in clients’ tournaments as a CPA. Jen’s extent of golf nowadays is through FTOC, but she does remember playing rounds even with Rosie in baby carrier on Jen’s back. Jen’s favorite part of FTOC is maintaining her reign as the ambassador who has recruited the most new participants and coaches. Jen runs a 501(c)3 charity focused on youth development and is currently starting a 4-week entrepreneurship summer camp geared for children.

COACH JENSON

Jenson (age 12) started learning golf at age 3 and has been in FTOC since age 4; he and Daddy fight over the latest issue of Golf Digest and are both glued to the TV during majors. Jenson is also an avid cellist, being recently chosen for Honors Orchestra. His favorite part of FTOC is serving as Junior Coach; he has rarely missed volunteer events, happily forgoing school carnivals and birthday parties to go coaching instead. 

ROSIE

Rosie (age 10) started FTOC at age 2, when her golf bag was bigger than her and coaches fought to walk behind her and hold up her golf bag lol. Rosie served at senior center during her preschool days and is currently the youngest member of Saddleback Church’s Cardmaking Ministry. Her favorite part of FTOC is Girls Golf and the friendships she’s forged. Rosie is counting the days to be a junior coach when we’d finally have everyone in our family wearing FTOC red polos :-).

Wine Women & Shoes Fundraiser Benefiting First Tee – Orange County

First Tee Orange County Invites You to Kick Up Your Heels and Raise a Glass at Wine Women & Shoes Fundraiser

Newport Beach, CA – March 3, 2023

Set aside your slippers and dust off your stilettos — First Tee Orange County (FTOC) will host its inaugural Wine Women & Shoes (WW&S) event at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, CA on Thursday, May 11 from 6-10 PM.

An irresistible blend of fashion and compassion, WW&S events are all about putting the “fun” in fundraising. They give women the opportunity to get glamorous with their girlfriends while enjoying incredible varietals from top women winemakers––all for a good cause.

First Tee Orange County’s sip-sational event will feature a signature Shoe Trend fashion show by event sponsor Neiman Marcus Fashion Island, live and silent auctions featuring desirable travel, gift baskets and small leather goods, a Key to the Closet raffle and Wall of Wine. Women-owned wineries such as A Tribute to Grace, Hirsch Vineyards and Peay Vineyards will provide wine tasting, while charming Shoe Guys™ ­serving up this season’s must-haves on silver platters roam the crowd.  Sponsors include Argaux, Brighton Collectibles, Calida Properties LLC, City National Bank, Greet and Stroll community publications and Shulman, Bastian, Friedman & Bui LLC.

“We are excited to bring this event to Orange County and highlight our character-building youth development program for such a dynamic group of philanthropically-minded women, sponsors and donors of all ages,” said Wendy Cullen, FTOC’s Chief Executive Officer.  “In addition to shopping a nine-vendor Marketplace while sipping wine, guests will enjoy dinner and a program featuring one of our long-term teenage participants and First Tee Scholars. She will share how FTOC helps build her confidence, assists in goal-setting and applies other important skills needed for her to succeed in education, an after-school job and life.”

Ticket sales opened up on March 1. General Admission tickets are $200 and VIP $250.  Girlfriend Tables are also available with enhanced benefits.  All net proceeds benefit FTOC and its new “Teens on Greens” program, which is just one of the programs offered to kids age 4-18 in 11 program locations across Orange County.  The Anaheim-based non-profit organization has served over 26,000 Orange County youth and partnered with numerous other Orange County youth organizations since its founding almost 10 years ago.   

For more information or to volunteer for the event, please call or e-mail Lisa Getson, Event Chairman, at 714-803-1156 or Lisa.M.Getson@gmail.com. 

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets

Welcome to our Board of Directors

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Well, for starters I’m a bit of a nomad. I’ve uprooted and moved 10 different times throughout the course of my life. I’m glad to call California my home but Texas is a close second as I spent a total of 10 years there. I attended undergrad at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas and, after trying out a career in sales, quickly made a transition to an industry I’ve always been fond of – Marketing & Advertising. I’ve been in that trade now for over 10 years. I peaked in terms of life accomplishments in 2016 when the love of my life, Stefanie, agreed to marry me. Today, we live in Costa Mesa, CA and have been blessed with two young boys – Brock (3) and Beau (1). 

Can you tell us a little about your golf background?

My Dad encouraged me to give the sport a try from time to time as I was growing up, but that usually resulted in an annual round where the only thing higher than the numbers on the scorecard were the amount of golf balls lost in the woods. I’d routinely walk away discouraged and disinterested in picking up a club. It wasn’t until a few years after I had graduated college and moved back to Southern California that I began to get more interested in the sport. Today, I’m officially hooked. Instead of being frustrated by the game, I’ve developed the utmost respect for the time and commitment it takes to becoming proficient at it. 

What does First Tee mean to you?

First Tee represents the wonderful intersection of a purpose driven organization focused on cultivating future generations and a sport I’ve come to respect and admire. 

Can you tell us why you accepted the position to be a part of the FTOC Board of Directors?

I wanted to give back to my community, but more importantly, I wanted to give back in a way where my contributions would have a legacy. That’s what makes the First Tee really special to me. You have the ability to work with an organization that is going to influence future generations who will be able to turn around and do the same one day. It has the potential for infinite good, which really excites me. 

What is your role at Chipotle and can you go into detail about our relationship with Chipotle?

I am the Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at Chipotle Mexican Grill. My primary focus is leading the management and execution of our new menu item innovation, while also working on many initiatives impacting our core menu offerings as well as our brand communications and advertising. I’ve been at the company for more than 4 years and have had the incredible fortune of leading the introduction of more than 10 new items to our menu, including the most successful LTO (limited time offer) in company history, Pollo Asado and a brand new line of 100% Organic Beverages through a partnership with Tractor Beverage Co. I’m very proud of the positive business impacts my programs have made for the organization as well as the delight they have brought our guests. 

What would you like to accomplish during your tenure on the board?

I want to make an impact first and foremost. I believe that through leveraging my marketing background, I can help provide guidance that will lead to tangible results when it comes to improving brand awareness as well as increasing donor engagement and retention. If I succeed, I will hopefully leave the organization better than before I started. 

What is your favorite core value/character building value that we teach at First Tee?

Growth through Challenge. I personally believe it is so important to embrace challenges, not shy away from them. This is something that did not come to me naturally when I was younger, nor did I find it easy to understand when my parents, coaches, or mentors tried to emphasize it with me. It was one of those life lessons that I had to consistently encounter before I finally understood how to deal with it and, in time, appreciate it. Once I discovered that inner strength, I quickly realized it is truly one of the richest gifts in life. It’s a difficult concept to grasp, so the more chances they have to be educated on its value, the better. 

We’re very excited for Matthew to join our board and look forward to his contribution to First Tee – Orange County!

Click here to see our Board of Directors

Four Teens Earn Selection into the First Tee College Scholarship Program

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL.  (September 12, 2022) – First Tee participants from Minnesota, Massachusetts, San Francisco and Orange County, Calif. have each been awarded scholarships and selection in to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. The teens were selected following their participation in the First Tee Leadership Series and Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore based on their intentional and innovative commitment to personal growth and development as leaders throughout the course of the program.

First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore congratulate:

  • Gabriella Mercado from First Tee – Orange County:  Gabriella is a 16-year-old high school junior from Placentia, Calif. She’s been involved with First Tee for seven years. She holds a 4.0 GPA and has aspirations of playing college golf and then becoming a sports lawyer.  Gabriella enjoys community service and in her first two years of high school accumulated more than 225 hours.
  • Jaylyn Remolona from First Tee – San Francisco: Jaylynis a 15-year-old high school junior from San Francisco.  Jaylyn attends Mercy High School in Burlingame has been involved with First Tee for seven years. She holds a 3.65 and outside of school her two hobbies are golf and singing.  
  • Kyzar Joshi from First Tee — Massachusetts: Kyzar is 17-year-old high school senior at Ashland High School in Ashland, Mass.He has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. He holds a 4.12 GPA and his career aspirations include playing college golf and majoring in finance or economics in college.  Kyzar serves as his class treasurer, and helped lead the Ashland High School golf team to the state section tournament. Kyzar is in the process of completing the ACE level of the First Tee Curriculum.
  • Saloni Somia from First Tee – Minnesota:  Saloni, from Plymouth, Minn.,is a17-year-old high school senior at Minnetonka High School. She has been involved with First Tee for four years. She holds a 4.0 GPA and serves as the President of her school’s National Honor Society, Captain of the Minnetonka Girls Golf Team, Founder and President of Everyone Eats (an organization that provides homeless youth allergy friendly foods) and co-founded a teen-led YouTube channel that gives good allergy advice to teens.

As First Tee Scholars, the teens will receive support throughout their post-graduate careers. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. In addition, each scholar is paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in person throughout the year.

“We are very proud of these four deserving teens from across the country,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “They each showed dedication and impressive character traits throughout the Leadership Series and Summit.  They are leaders in their schools, at home and at their First Tee chapters. Through the First Tee College Scholarship Program, we will continue to support them in their personal and professional development and empower them to hone their leadership skills as they pursue their careers. We’re thankful for partners like PGA TOUR Superstore who support these game changing initiatives.”

The four teens were selected from the more than 250 participants who attended the Leadership Series and Summit.  Boasting an average GPA of 3.9 the teens meet the College Scholarship Program eligibility requirements which are based on academic performance, length and involvement in First Tee programs, financial need and commitment to volunteerism.

First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible by donors and corporate partners who stand behind the program and First Tee’s mission. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman Arthur M. Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through charitable and in-kind donations across the country. In September 2020, PGA TOUR Superstore announced a new grant that will help First Tee reach more youth across the U.S. and strengthen its curriculum for teenage participants, including the development of the Leadership Series and Summit.

“We are committed to being a positive influence in our communities and truly believe in the positive impact sports has in developing and supporting youth,” said Dick Sullivan, President & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “We are proud to partner with the First Tee to empower young people with values-based leadership skills that will help them succeed throughout the course of their life. Congratulations Gabriella, Jaylyn, Kyzar and Saloni.”

Photos and broll of the Scholars is available here.

PGA TOUR Professional Austin Smotherman Joins First Tee as an Official Ambassador

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL., (July 12, 2022) – PGA TOUR professional and First Tee alumnus Austin Smotherman has been named an official ambassador of First Tee. A Loomis, Calif. native, Smotherman participated in the Greater Sacramento chapter from age seven until 18 and developed his golf game and character during his time in the program. As an ambassador, Smotherman will showcase his involvement with the youth development organization and the impact it has on his life to help inspire the next generation.

Smotherman is debuting the First Tee logo on his bag this week during the Barracuda Championship in support of the program and its mission to empower kids and teens to build their strength of character through golf. As an ambassador, he will also give his time to meet with participants, donors, and chapter leadership to inspire more support of its mission and participation of the program.

“I’m honored to take on this role as First Tee Ambassador,” said Smotherman. “Looking back at my time as a participant, I really value the balance of developing my character while I was also developing my golf swing. Those experiences and the skills I acquired helped shape who I am as a person and now as a professional athlete. They still guide me today as I navigate the ups and downs of this game that I love.”

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, congratulations to Austin Smotherman on today’s announcement regarding his new role as official ambassador of First Tee,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Competing on the PGA TOUR requires hard work and perseverance and his story and the character strengths he developed during his time in First Tee will help inspire many kids and teens as they explore the many opportunities golf can provide. Austin paying it forward is another example of what makes the PGA TOUR – and our members  – so special.”

During his time in First Tee, Smotherman progressed through the program, transitioning from a participant to a junior coach and mentor to the younger kids. In 2009 and 2010 he played in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee and in 2011 he earned First Tee – Greater Sacramento’s Core Value Award.

In 2016, he graduated from Southern Methodist University where he played on the men’s golf team. After competing for two seasons on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica (2017 –2018) he transitioned to the Korn Ferry Tour (2019-2021) until he earned his PGA TOUR card in August 2021. Smotherman is the third First Tee alum, following Scott Langley (retired) and Cameron Champ, to achieve this milestone.

“We are proud to welcome Austin as our First Tee ambassador,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This is a special moment as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and the lasting impact we are having on youth and alumni across the country as they pursue their careers and passions, both on and off the golf course.  His commitment to giving back and dedication to living out his values is an inspiration and will impact many lives.”

Launching in 1997, First Tee is celebrating 25 years of enabling kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. These character education programs are offered at golf courses, schools and youth centers in all 50 states and at six international locations.

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)  

First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching millions of youth through its network of 150 chapters, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.  

Contacts:
Sara Henika
sarahenika@FirstTee.org
(904)881-7398