On Sunday, September 22nd, First Tee – Silicon Valley participants attended the PURE Insurance Championship to go walk Pebble Beach Golf Course in support of our very own Joey Jang.
For this trip, the generous Monterey Peninsula Foundation granted us funds to charter a bus to take 38 participants and 6 chaperones to show our support for Joey and the First Tee. The attending participants were invited based on how long they were in our program and how active they are in our golf opportunities. From taking multiple classes to being in our tournaments, these participants truly have a passion for the game of golf.
The main focus of this field trip is to validate their commitment to our program. By watching these selected First Tee tournament players, we hope this trip inspires our own participants to continue their golf journey with us at First Tee.
The PURE Insurance Championship is an opportunity for committed First Tee participants to be able to play with Professional and Pro-Amateur PGA players at one of the most recognized golf courses in the world- Pebble Beach. The process to get into this tournament requires an application process as well as a referral from your chapter, then the finalized entries are made by First Tee National.
Joey Jang, from Gilroy, was selected to represent our chapter with his partner- 95’ US Open Championship Winner, Corey Pavin. Joey has been part of FTSV since 2016 and has continued to grow as a person through our volunteering opportunities. He gives back on Saturday’s at Gavilan while also maintaining a student-athlete career at Christopher High School. Joey finished -5 on the weekend and ranked within the top 25 in the Tournament. We are beyond proud of how well Joey played and handled himself and will continue to support him as he continues his junior year at Christopher.
We would like to thank the coaches who volunteered as chaperones – Alex W., Nestor A., Amado V., Emma V., and James P. Without the 5 of you, we would not have been able to have this awesome trip. We also wanted to recognize the parents of the invited participants. Thank you for bringing the excited kids to us and trusting us with your children yet again.
On Sunday, September 30th, First Tee – Silicon Valley took a field trip to Pebble Beach Golf Links for the PURE Insurance Championship. Program Coordinators and volunteers brought 40 participants to the beautiful golf course, not only to watch the PGA TOUR Champions play, but also to support three of our very own FTSV participants playing on teams with Pros. Camille Thai, Norah Yang, and Joshua Jang all did a fantastic job representing FTSV and we are incredibly proud of them. Their life skills of sportsmanship, integrity and respect were on full display, not to mention their golf skills, which they have developed over the years with plenty of hard work.
The PURE Insurance Championship is an international showcase for First Tee and has been played at Pebble Beach Golf Links since 2004. This event pairs up PGA TOUR Champions (age 50 and over) with First Tee players in a Best Ball format. The groups play the first two days at Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. If after these first rounds the group is in the top 10, they go on to play Sunday at Pebble Beach and compete for the top spot. All three of our participants represented FTSV beautifully, and were even able to secure 3rd and 6th place overall.
Camille, Norah and Joshua all had lots to say about how this big weekend went for them.
Camille ThaiNorah YangJoshua Jang
For Camille Thai, the whole weekend was just surreal. She made many new friends, learned a lot from her Pro, Jerry Kelly, and left the weekend excited and hopeful for the future. Parts of the weekend were nerve wracking, specifically learning how to play with professionals, but as the tournament went on, Camille was able to get comfortable in her golf game and fully enjoy the experience. As Camille came down hole 18, FTSV participants stood up against the ropes, cheering her on and watching her finish her round with poise. Then, Camille came, sat down with the participants, and signed autographs, creating life time memories for her newest, young fans. It was really an incredible sight to witness, and the whole day is something everyone involved will remember for a long time.
The relationships and community Norah Yang built over the weekend will stay with her for a long time to come. From meeting and spending time with other First Tee participants, to listening two-time major winner Christie Kerr speak about managing stress and being present in the moment, and spending time playing with and learning from her pro, YE Yang, Norah left the weekend knowing more about the game of golf, herself, and the wonderful and supportive community she has within the game. For her, this tournament was a wild, full-circle kind of experience. Ten years ago, back in 2013, Norah remembers watching our FTSV participant Michelle Xie win this same event and becoming inspired by another amazing, female youth golfer. Now, through years of hard work and personal development, Norah feels like she is in the place to do the same thing, inspiring another generation of young golfers to be their best selves.
While he already knew First Tee was a community of support and collaboration, Joshua Jang left Pebble Beach and the PURE Insurance Championship with a deepened appreciation and understanding of just how much golf and First Tee have shaped him and his wonderful community. Before the weekend, Joshua had not played Pebble Beach before, so when he stepped on to the course Friday late in the afternoon, he was blown away by the picturesque nature of the course. With the perfect sunset over the ocean, the gentle sea breeze and the perfect condition of the course, the everything felt almost unbelievable. As Joshua played his practice rounds, he met many great people, including caddies who went out of their way to help him with strategy and staying relaxed, and other First Tee participants from across the country. What stood out to him the most from the weekend, even more so than just the awe of playing in such a big tournament, was all the different cultures and people he experienced. He said he was surprised how much difference he noticed between people from different parts of the country, while still having so much in common, especially in their very strong life skills and love and appreciation for the game of the golf and the community that comes with it. To Joshua, the part of First Tee that stands out to him the most is the community, the group of people who value communication, mentorship, collaboration and all of the First Tee core values. The PURE Insurance Championship put this on full display for him, and reaffirmed his connection to FTSV.
Support our 3 FTSV participants as they compete in the 2023 PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship
First Tee – Silicon Valley Ace participants Joshua Jang, Norah Yang, and Camille Thai will be competing next week in the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, September19th to the 24th. You can watch the tournament on Golf Channel Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (22nd-24th) from 3-6pm. You can also watch in person. Click here for more information. Best of luck to Joshua, Norah, and Camille!
Meet Joshua
Joshua is a standout FTSV participant and volunteer coach. Joshua has been an engaged participant since 2016 and a dedicated FTSV volunteer since 2020, amassing over 200 volunteer hours. He’s taken initiative and collaborates well with our staff on ideas for program improvements. He is also a high-performing competitive golfer. He recently qualified for the 112th California Amateur Championship and is a 3-year starter for his varsity golf team. “I feel that my selection for the PURE Insurance is a testament that First Tee has always been about more than just golf,” says Joshua. “First Tee – Silicon Valley has been an important part of my life, and the strong sense of community and support for one another has helped me realize what it means to be part of a positive change larger than oneself.”
Click here to watch Joshua Jang find out he was selected on Golf Channel.
Meet Norah
Norah is a leader and role model in her classes as a FTSV participant and as a volunteer coach. She has been active as a participant since 2015 and began volunteering as a FTSV coach in 2022. As it relates to her golfing acumen, Norah led her high school golf team to a league championship as a freshman and was awarded MVP in 2021. She has qualified for the USKids World Championship twice and the IMG Junior World at Torrey Pines. Additionally, Norah has placed high in several AGJA tournaments. “I am so excited to play,” says Norah. “There are so many applicants for these wonderful events, and to be selected makes me feel so honored and proud. First Tee had supported me every step of my golf journey, from not even knowing how to hold a golf club to being able to compete nationally with amazing golfers. It has taught me so much, and I look forward to representing First Tee – Silicon Valley.”
Meet Camille
Camille has been an outstanding participant in our program for a decade and has assisted us in our fundraising events. A highly ranked golfer who won the IMG Junior Worlds and placed 2nd at the Pinehurst US Kids World Team Championship, shooting 65. “I’m so excited and honored to be selected,” says Camille. “I’ve been with the First Tee for more than 10 years now and it has been instrumental in helping me develop both as a person and a player. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.”
“We are excited for all three to experience an opportunity of a lifetime,” says Chris Moreno-Hunt, FTSV Program Director. “All three have been dedicated participants, and have made our chapter a better place. We will be cheering them on!”
