Meg Lavinder of First Tee — Greater Richmond invited to play PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach

Richmond, Va. (July 10, 2023) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today that Meg Lavinder will represent First Tee — Greater Richmond when she competes in the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. The event, in its 20th year, will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, Sept. 19-24. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel.

2023 Dominion Energy Charity Classic

A rising senior at Mechanicsville High School, Lavinder has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for nine years. The organization’s Junior Advisory Board (JAB) President, Lavinder took part in the First Tee Drive Your Future Academy in San Francisco in 2022.

She has represented First Tee – Greater Richmond in National First Tee Opportunities, has qualified for the Virginia High School State Golf Tournament, Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tournaments, and the Richmond City Amateur.

The trip to the PURE Insurance Championship will give Lavinder an opportunity to repeat her feat from the 2021 Dominion Energy Charity Classic Pro-Am, where she aced the eighth hole at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course while playing with the PGA TOUR Champions’ Scott Dunlap.

“Congratulations to Meg for this well-deserved honor and opportunity to represent First Tee – Greater Richmond on a national stage at the PURE Insurance Championship,” Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President of Impact said. “She is a fantastic role model on and off the golf course and exemplifies the values we hope to instill in our participants and our community.”

Throughout the week, the teens apply their character strengths and life skills learned from First Tee programs during the one-of-a-kind event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. Lavinder will compete for the Pro-Junior Team title, joining 80 other teens from First Tee chapters across the country and – for the third year in a row – a participant from First Tee — Morocco. Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their personal growth and development through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability.

The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today.” A few players and legends of the game helped surprise several participants with the news of their selection, including PGA TOUR player Joel Dahmen and PGA TOUR Champions players Tim O’Neal, Rod Pampling and reigning PURE Insurance Championship winner Steve Flesch. PGA TOUR Canada player Quinn Riley – a First Tee alumnus who played at the PURE Insurance Championship as a junior – surprised his younger brother with an invitation to the tournament, and six First Tee participants were surprised by Golf Channel at women’s majors, including the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

The junior field for 2032 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

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

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, First Tee – Greater Richmond 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. Through three major programming areas, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 75,000 youth in 2022. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PALO ALTO, CA. (July 6, 2023) – Megan Meng of Pennington, New Jersey, and Cooper Groshart of San Luis Obispo, California, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the third annual First Tee National Championship at Stanford Golf Course. The event, July 2 to 6, brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the strength of character needed to play at the next level.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The National Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information on the tournament and First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.

Media Contact:

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

First Tee – Greater Richmond, Henrico County Public Schools Earn National Association of Counties Achievement Award

First Tee School Program Field Trips Receive National Recognition

RICHMOND, Va. (July 6, 2023) – First Tee – Greater Richmond and Henrico County Public Schools were recently named a 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Award Winner in recognition of the First Tee School Program Field Trips held at Belmont in 2022-23.

“First Tee – Greater Richmond is committed to impacting the lives of young people in our community,” said Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Vice President of Impact. “Through our First Tee School Program and intentional collaboration with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) teachers and leadership, we have been able to provide fun, engaging, and educational field trips for 5th grade students in HCPS Title I Schools at Belmont and The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range.

“These opportunities not only provide access to our golf courses, but more importantly embrace our evidence-based curriculum that builds character, instills life-enhancing values, and promotes making healthy choices.”

An extension of the First Tee School Program, field trips bring local elementary school students to First Tee – Greater Richmond’s three green grass facilities: Belmont, The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range, and The Tattersall Youth Development Center. Field trips are focused on building confidence and character while providing access to authentic golf experiences in a safe and friendly environment.

For the 2022-23 school year, 1,374 Henrico County Public School fifth graders attended a field trip, covering 22 title I schools. Henrico County Public School officials stated that the field trips resulted in 100% of its students improving upon benchmark psychomotor skills and learning outcomes.  

“Teachers and students have raved about this authentic, outdoor golf experience,” said Mark A. Brandenburger, M.Ed., AT-Ret, CSCS, and Health, Physical & Driver Education Specialist at Henrico County Public Schools. “The First Tee staff and coaches were an essential element in delivering high-quality motor skills and golf instruction to our students.

“However, it was the fleet of First Tee (community) volunteers that allowed the student group sizes to be small enough for the instruction to be personalized and differentiated so that students could have more swings and increasing opportunities for success in a lifetime physical activity.”

The National Association of Counties serves nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. The recognition of First Tee – Greater Richmond and Henrico County came in the “Community and Economic Development” category and was one of 34 awards garnered by the county this year.

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First Tee – Greater Richmond Alumna Fei Roseboro Captures Richmond Women’s City Amateur

by Kaitlin Doherty, for First Tee – Greater Richmond

Integrity is cherished at First Tee. It is among the many values instilled in First Tee participants as they go through the First Tee various Program. Fei Roseboro is an extraordinary example of a First Tee – Greater Richmond alumna former participant that took this value to heart and carried it within herself once her days as a participant came to an end. Fei says this value has “kept me honest” as she’s continued playing golf, which helped her claim the winning title of the 95th Richmond Women’s City Amateur Championship at Lakeside Park Club on June 9.

A win like this takes a lot of good judgment calls – when to attack a pin, the proper putting line, and more. Integrity helped Fei with “knowing the difference between right and wrong,” making the journey to her win filled with good choices. Approaching each round with integrity lays the groundwork for success, and Fei showed that through her matchplay.

Fei won the tournament in a 2-and-1 victory over Helen Im after a week of hard work and skillful play. In the tournament played at Lakeside Country Club she went up against numerous opponents, six of which were previous winners of the tournament. True to her character, Fei is staying humble after this achievement saying “it’s just another win.”

Although Fei came to know First Tee – Greater Richmond at 7 years old, she ended up joining the team at Belmont as a part of the cart and range staff in high school. She says having a role at Belmont played a part in developing her golf game because “it definitely helped [me] to play and practice more.”

She said if she could give a piece of advice to current participants it would be to “have fun with it.” First Tee – Greater Richmond is proud to be building game changers like Fei, and look forward to seeing her golf game continue to develop!

First Tee – Greater Richmond Announces Staff Additions

RICHMOND, Va. (June 23, 2023) – First Tee – Greater Richmond has announced several additions to its full-time staff, adding Lee Coppock, Ana Ferreyra Heit, Grace Huffman, and Lauren Velardi to its staff as part of a continued organizational evolution. Additionally, the organization has hired nine summer interns to assist with First Tee Summer Camps and Programs.

“Our additions will all be instrumental in helping us forward our vision of strengthening the character of our community,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “Lee, Ana, Grace, and Lauren add to our dynamic team and I look forward to working with each of them.”

Coppock, who joined the organization in February, is serving as the organization’s Senior Director of Agronomy, overseeing the grounds at all three First Tee – Greater Richmond facilities. The Virginia Tech alumnus comes to First Tee – Greater Richmond from Salisbury Country Club, where he spent the last three years as its superintendent.

Ferreyra Heit and Huffman will both be Player Development Professionals, with Ferrerya Heit based at Belmont and Huffman at The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range. In their positions, they will work in both golf operations and youth programming roles.

Ferreyra Heit recently graduated from Delaware State University, where she starred on the women’s golf team. The Mar del Plata, Argentina-native collected All-Northeast Conference Women’s Golf First Team accolades in 2023 after a third-place finish at the NEC Championship. The year prior, Ferreyra Heit  was selected to the All-Southland Conference Second Team and earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team accolades.

A First Tee – Roanoke Valley alumna, Huffman completed her collegiate career at Longwood University, where she captained the women’s golf team. Huffman was the only Longwood player to compete in all 26 rounds in 2022-23, helping the Lancers to a fifth-place finish at the Big South Championship. At Rockbridge County High School, Huffman was the first female in Rockbridge County school history to play in the VHSL Girls State Championship and first to sign a national letter of intent to play for a Division I women’s golf team.

Velardi joins First Tee – Greater Richmond as its Chief of Staff from WNRN-FM, where she held several roles, most recently as the public radio station’s Director of Philanthropy. As Chief of Staff, Velardi will provide executive support with responsibilities related to day-to-day business operations including board communication, human resource administration, development management and event preparation.

Ward started as the Senior Assistant Golf Professional at Belmont in April after a year serving as an instructor and manager at The Edge Golf Academy in Richmond. The James Madison University alumnus previously spent over four years at Stonewall Golf Club as its Assistant Golf Professional before working as the assistant pro at Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Del., before returning to Virginia.

Additionally, nine summer interns have joined the First Tee – Greater Richmond team. Summer interns will help run the day-to-day operations at summer camps and programs while also gaining insights into the organization’s golf course operations and external relations. The summer intern roster includes:

  • Will Abdi; Senior, Roanoke College
  • Matt Ellis; Senior, Bridgewater College
  • Trey Grzelecki; Junior; Longwood University
  • Annabelle Jennings; Senior, Longwood University
  • Nick Moore; Senior, Longwood University
  • Katelyn O’Donnell; Senior, Radford University
  • Randall Puente; Junior, James Madison University
  • Malcolm Goble Garatt; Senior, Virginia Tech
  • Tatum Walsh; Junior, James Madison University

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Atlanta Falcons’ Beadles, Lindstrom; Atlanta United’s Lagerwey headline First Tee’s inaugural Leadership Academy

Teens from across the U.S. will spend a week in PGA TOUR Superstore’s headquarters of Atlanta learning from Arthur M. Blank Family of businesses, civic and sports leader

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. and ATLANTA, GA. (June 19, 2023) – Youth development organization First Tee will host its inaugural Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore from June 19-23. The weeklong Atlanta event will bring together 48 teens from across the country who will learn about building and running a successful team.

First Tee uses golf as a vehicle through which to teach life skills and values. The nonprofit is collaborating with PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to host its inaugural Leadership Academy, which will feature workshops on cultivating authentic relationships, developing a winning culture and more. The Academy is taking place at various venues across the Atlanta area, including Atlanta Falcons Flowery Branch, Atlanta United Training Ground, Mercedes-Benz Stadium Georgia Institute of Technology, the Bobby Jones Golf Club and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Event highlights include:

  • Georgia Tech head women’s basketball coach Nell Fortner will share advice on achieving individual growth in a team setting during the opening keynote.
  • Atlanta Falcons President Greg Beadles will speak to participants before they explore the team’s Flowery Branch training facility.
  • Participants will hear from Atlanta United President/CEO Garth Lagerwey before attending a game to witness the team in action.
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium executive Don Rovak will discuss the importance of supporting your team.
  • PGA TOUR Superstore President Jill Spiegel will address the teens at historic Bobby Jones Golf Club.
  • Participants will visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights where Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom, the team’s 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year, will deliver the closing address.

Initially envisioned by PGA TOUR Superstore executive Ralph Stokes, who leads the brand’s diversity, partnerships and community efforts, the event’s curriculum was developed by First Tee and an independent youth development expert. Stokes recently became the first Black president of the Georgia State Golf Association and was among the first Black players on the University of Alabama football team, where he played under legendary coach Bear Bryant.

“From playing team sports, I learned that no matter how great an individual player is, you will not achieve success on your own. The team is no stronger than the weakest link,” Stokes said. “Golf is largely an individual sport, but we felt it was important to collaborate with First Tee on this event because these kids are part of families, communities, clubs and eventually workplaces where they need to function within a team.”

For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation 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 kids across the U.S. and strengthen its curriculum for teenage participants, including the development of the Leadership Series, held locally at PGA TOUR Superstores across the country, and the Leadership Summit, which takes place in Emigrant, Montana. The new Leadership Academy in Atlanta is the latest installment in this exciting portfolio of events. 

“Thank you to PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for their ongoing support of First Tee,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “This new Leadership Academy will provide young people with an amazing and impactful experience.”  

The Leadership Academy is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to inspire and equip teens on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. 

To be eligible to apply for the Academy, teens were required to participate in a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstores across the country this past spring. 

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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, 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 PGA TOUR Superstore 
PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., a subsidiary of AMB Sports + Entertainment and is headquartered in metro-Atlanta. As the PGA TOUR’s exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner in North America, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise as card-carrying PGA TOUR pros. All stores are staffed with teaching professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, and large putting greens. There is also an in-house club making and repair facility. Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men’s, women’s and juniors’ apparel and footwear for golf and tennis. For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.com. 

Contacts:  
Megan Hart, First Tee 
[email protected]

Megan Mahoney, PGA TOUR Superstore 
[email protected]

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  
[email protected] 

CapTech Opens State-of-the-Art Golf Innovation Center at First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Belmont Golf Course

RICHMOND, Va. (May 23, 2023) – CapTech, an award-winning technology consulting firm, and First Tee, a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, celebrated the grand opening of the CapTech Golf Innovation Center at First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Belmont golf course. The Innovation Center reflects the shared commitment to STEM education by CapTech and First Tee – Greater Richmond.

The opening event featured CapTech TOUR ambassadors, Lanto Griffin and Austin Ernst, and UNC-Chapel Hill basketball player and Richmond native Armando Bacot participating in a panel discussion and guiding a putting clinic, a par 3 challenge and tours of the new center. 

“We are proud to announce the opening of the CapTech Golf Innovation Center at First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Belmont golf course,” said CapTech Chairman Sandy Williamson. “The center will foster collaboration and learning through cutting-edge applications of data, design, and technology. We hope that it helps spark participants’ interest in STEM and opens their minds to all of the possibilities that technology can create.”

The CapTech Golf Innovation Center will provide a dedicated space for First Tee participants to explore and learn from golf technologies to which they may not normally have access, including a newly-installed Zen Green Stage, which creates putting gradients and adjustable slopes. Participants will also benefit from a STEM-focused curriculum that incorporates engineering, innovation, and data and analytics challenges. In addition, the tools will capture participant data, which will help coaches customize training and help participants track improvement. 

“We are excited about the opening of the CapTech Golf Innovation Center and appreciate CapTech’s continued partnership,” said Brent Schneider, Executive Director of First Tee – Greater Richmond. “This center and the additional STEM curriculum will greatly enhance our efforts to impact the lives of young people while also ensuring Belmont remains a place where everyone can find their connection to golf.”

In 2019, First Tee – Greater Richmond, in partnership with Love Golf Design, embarked on an ambitious reimagination of World Golf Hall of Fame architect A.W. Tillinghast’s 1917 design. The project converted the 18-hole course into a championship 12 holes, restoring Tillinghast’s vision and bringing back 10 of 12 original green complexes; created a six-hole par-3 course featuring Tillinghast template holes; an 18-hole putting course that measures the largest in the state, checking in at over 34,000-square feet; and a full practice facility that allows Belmont to host First Tee camps, programs and clinics, while also allowing the public to utilize both driving and short game ranges.

CapTech is also a leader in transforming sports technology. Its work with multiple sports organizations and leagues has helped broaden fan engagement and open expansive new revenue streams by facilitating entrance in the evolving sports gaming market.

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Brandon Howard, PGA, Selected for 2023-24 PGA LEAD Class

RICHMOND, Va. (April 27, 2023) – Belmont Head Golf Professional Brandon Howard, PGA, has been selected as one of 15 PGA Members for the 2023-24 PGA LEAD class, the PGA of America recently announced.

Howard joined the First Tee – Greater Richmond organization in January as the head professional at Belmont and oversees the day-to-day operation of the historic facility, including staffing, sales, patron relationships, teaching and events. Howard came to Belmont with over 10 years of experience in the golf industry, including time as the Head Golf Professional at Somerby Golf Club in Rochester, Minn., and as the Player Development Coordinator for the City of Westminster, Colo.

“Brandon’s desire to grow the inclusivity of the game and industry was key in his selection to become our Head Professional at Belmont,” First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President of Operations Mark Lynch, PGA, said. “His belief in making the game and facility welcoming to everyone drives our vision at Belmont and First Tee – Greater Richmond, and his efforts within PGA LEAD will continue to shape how we act and impact growth across the PGA of America.”

Established in 2016, PGA LEAD is the Association’s leadership development program, created to identify, mentor and progress PGA Members from diverse backgrounds along a guided path to volunteer leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the Association. PGA LEAD also helps PGA Members who have a desire to serve and make an impact on nonprofit boards within the communities where they work and live.

This 18-month leadership development program reinforces the PGA of America’s commitment to create a game, workforce and industry supply chain that better mirror America’s demographics. More specifically, the PGA is committed to inclusive governance, environments, systems and structures that create the opportunity for all PGA Professionals to develop, grow and lead.

“I am excited to see the continued interest in PGA LEAD as it continues to thrive in helping PGA Members receive the training and skills needed to ascend into leadership positions throughout the Association,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, the Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “This program helps bring a diverse cross section of talented PGA Members together as leaders in a host of important positions within the golf industry nationwide, which will help position the PGA of America’s overall growth and success for decades to come.”

PGA LEAD is a complement to PGA WORKS – a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Among the alumni of the PGA LEAD are three PGA Section presidents, three Section vice presidents, two Section secretaries, 19 Section board members and 19 national committee members.

2023-2024 PGA LEAD Class Members
Jackie Buckley, PGA – Scioto Country Club – Columbus, Ohio; Southern Ohio PGA Section
Jason Dochney, PGA – JSJ Inc. – Tulsa, Okla.; South Central PGA Section
Peyton Durham Hemme, PGA – Westchester Country Club – Rye, N.Y.; Metropolitan PGA Section
Langston Frazier, PGA – Belle Haven Country Club – Alexandria, Va.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Melissa Hatten, PGA – Talisker Club – Park City, Utah; Utah PGA Section
Marvin Gene Herrod Jr., PGA – Sunset Country Club – St. Charles, Mo.; Gateway PGA Section
Brandon Howard, PGA – Belmont Golf Course – Richmond, Va.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Cathy Kim, PGA – Baltimore Country Club – Baltimore, Md.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Heather King, PGA – MCAS Miramar Memorial – San Diego, Calif.; Southern California PGA Section
Brendan Locke, PGA – GOLFTEC Wisconsin – Madison, Wis.; Wisconsin PGA Section
Nolan Rheam, PGA – Olde Florida Golf Club – Naples, Fla.; South Florida PGA Section
Nick St. Onge, PGA – Country Club of Lincoln – Lincoln, Neb.; Nebraska PGA Section
Missy Williams, PGA – Tara Golf & Country Club – Bradenton, Fla.; North Florida PGA Section
Ronnie Valerio, PGA – Temecula, Calif.; Southern California PGA Section
Len Zamora, PGA – Scotts Park Golf Links – Albuquerque, N.M.; Sun Country PGA Section

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Dominion Energy Charity Classic – Community Invitational Raises Over $156,000 for First Tee – Greater Richmond

Annual tournament has raised over $770,000 in five years

RICHMOND, Va. (April 21, 2023) – The fifth annual Dominion Energy Charity Classic – Community Invitational raised over $156,000 on Monday, April 17, as community and corporate partners came together at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course for a charity scramble.

Twenty-nine foursomes took part in the captain’s choice scramble, which saw a team with First Tee – Greater Richmond participants tie for medalist honors. Foursomes also connected with First Tee – Greater Richmond participants on the 13th hole, where they played through the hole using the same games and lessons as participants utilize and teach.

“We are incredibly grateful to our partners at the PGA TOUR, The Country Club of Virginia, and within the community for their support of our organization,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “Their support allows us to meet our vision of strengthening the character of community.” 

Run in partnership with the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the invitational offers corporate and community partners the opportunity to play on the same course as October’s PGA TOUR Champions event. Funds raised go directly towards helping First Tee – Greater Richmond impact the lives of area youth via First Tee Programs, School Programs, and Community Partnerships.

“It is a natural extension of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic to partner with First Tee – Greater Richmond on the Community Invitational,” said Steve Schoenfeld, Executive Director of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. “With the ultimate goal being to leave a charitable footprint in the local community, what better way to help accomplish this goal, while also enabling First Tee – Greater Richmond to generate funds that help make the game of golf more accessible to area youth.”

Over $770,000 has been raised through the DECC-CI since the introduction of the tournament in 2019. The tournament serves as First Tee – Greater Richmond’s largest single-day fundraiser of the year.

First Tee – Greater Richmond is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, and since incorporating in 1998 as one of First Tee’s first chapters, First Tee – Greater Richmond has steadily grown across the community, impacting nearly 75,000 youth in 2022. The organization also operates three public golf facilities in the Richmond area – Belmont, the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range, and The Tattersall Youth Development Center – offering affordable, accessible golf to the entire community.

To learn more about First Tee – Greater Richmond, its impact and future vision, please visit:

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond

First Tee – Greater Richmond 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. Through three major programming areas, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 75,000 youth in 2022.