Category: Newsletter

The 2021 Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Dimarco Casillas, an ACE level participant of First Tee – Silicon Valley.  Each year golfers in the Dennis Kettmann Memorial Tournament raise funds to remember Dennis. Their generosity underwrites a special $5,000 college scholarship for a FTSV chosen participant. Dennis’s son and co-organizer of the Memorial Tournament, Matt Kettmann, learned the game from Dennis and knows that he must be smiling wherever he is knowing that his memory is now helping young people with FTSV pursue their college dreams. David Henningsen, who is also a co-organizer (featured in photo) shared, “It is so wonderful to have the recipient of the “Big D” scholarship play in our tournament and speak to the supporters about how FTSV has impacted him.” FTSV met Dimarco at a DRIVE school outreach event in Fischer Middle School located in San Jose. He began our program soon after the outreach event in the Spring of 2019. After taking several certifying and skills advancement classes, he quickly progressed to our top ACE level. Dimarco has excelled in the program, absorbing and exhibiting our core values and life skills. When he began our program, he had no golf experience yet after one year he made his high school golf team! He leads by example, shows up early to each class to practice, initiates conversations with his peers and coaches, and has a welcoming and positive approach to everyone he meets. We are excited to see Dimarco reach his goals and we are committed to being on his “Go-To-Team” as he continues his character-building and collegiate journey.

Franky Sumcad, was chosen to be a Silver Creek Valley Country Club Junior Honorary Member. SCVCC created this program to support young, prominent, local golfers as well as grow the game of golf.  Franky will have access to the club to practice, work at junior clinics, and be a role model for the club’s youth. She has been in the First Tee Silicon Valley since 2012 and has progressed to our Ace level. Additionally, she has been an volunteer coach for several years coaching our younger participants. “My favorite LPGA player is Yuka Saso because she’s a trailblazer.” said Franky. “She’s young but she won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines in the Asian Games and she recently won the U.S. Women’s Open. As a young Filipino golfer myself, it’s always encouraging to see representation.” Franky aspires to make the LPGA or find a career that involves golf, be that as an instructor or something different. Outside of golf, English and writing have always interested her.  She is very busy this summer with competing in many golf tournaments. Past: May 29-30 – JTNC Rooster Run June 2-4 – California Women’s Championship Ojai Valley Inn June 9 – CCS June 10 – USGA Junior Girls Qualifier June 14 – JGANC Junior world Qualifier Corica June 21-25 – NCGA CWAC June 28 – USGA women’s amateur qualifier July 5-7 – NCGA 17th Women’s Amateur Championship July 12-13 – NCGA junior Lake Merced July 21-22 – JGANC Lincoln Park July 26 – Corena Green Classic August 2-3 – JGANC Diablo Creek Franky is one of the three females that are honorary members.  Franky is in high company as the other two are Katherine Zhu and Sabrina Iqbal.   Katherine Zhu is the #1 player and Captain of the Cal Women’s team and former AJGA All American.   Sabrina Iqbal plays at TCU and has won the CIF State Championship, NCGA Junior Amateur, CA State Amateur, and SF City Championship. SCVCC is going to be hosting a Skins Game featuring its Junior Honorary Members on November 27th.  All the proceeds with go to the First Tee and Youth On Course. Congratulations Franky!

FTSV participant Isabella Herrera was one of 55 members chosen for the Youth on Course (YOC) + TaylorMade DRIVE Club. Selected members are outstanding kids who participate in community service, are academically strong, and are committed to making the game of golf more inclusive.  YOC partnered with TaylorMade Golf Company to provide further access to the game along with mentorship and support from industry professionals with the ultimate goal of increasing diversity amongst the golf industry at large.

Isabella has been involved in the FTSV program with her entire family for over 5 years and is currently an Eagle participant.  She shared her sentiments, “Diversity, inclusion and equity is really important to the game of golf. It is something it lacks and I am glad to see more of it because of this program.” “We are thrilled for Isabella.” says First Tee Silicon Valley Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt, “She has excelled in our program with her interpersonal communication and through her hard work. In addition to participating in all of our seasonal classes, she also caddies at local country clubs. She is a natural leader, and will make an outstanding DRIVE club participant. We are so proud of her!”

The newly-minted initiative, known as The DRIVE Club (an acronym for Diversity. Respect. Inclusion. Voice. Equity.), highlights a special subset of the YOC membership that will earn additional benefits through their commitment to play. The YOC and TaylorMade partnership aims to inspire its members through camaraderie and an all-encompassing team-like atmosphere.

The 55 members of the DRIVE Club, who reside in select markets for phase one of the initiative, will have access to play YOC partner facilities for just $1. Club members can also earn TaylorMade equipment and gear simply by playing a game they love. The more they play, the more they earn. Additionally, this partnership aims to help DRIVE Club members hone their skills on the course, with complimentary lessons provided by TaylorMade staff professionals at various locations, including the acclaimed Pebble Beach Resort.

“DRIVE Club is important to TaylorMade for many reasons,” says TaylorMade CEO David Abeles. “The betterment of the game is central to who we are, and we fully embrace that responsibility. It goes beyond engineering the highest performance equipment to help people play better golf. There’s a human and social element that we lean into, intrinsically with how the game brings people together and allows us to bond over a shared experience. DRIVE Club embodies those values, and we’re proud to partner with Youth on Course to bring it to life.”

The 100 Hole Hike is YOC’s marquee fundraising effort, with over $1M raised annually from individual and collective efforts that take place nationwide.  FTSV’s own Board Director Ron Hallagan braving participated and raised over $26,000 plus an additional generous matching gift to FTSV.

“The formation of the DRIVE Club, in partnership with TaylorMade, will help us continue to identify young people who are passionate about golf, education, and giving back, and create additional support systems to help them achieve their goals on and off the course,” says Michael Lowe, VP of Programs for YOC and FTSV Volunteer Coach.

Committed to making the game more appealing, inclusive and accessible to nurture the next generation of lifelong players and lovers of the game, YOC gives its members opportunities to grow on and off the course. Offering subsidized rounds of golf, YOC members can play at more than 1,400 courses across the country for $5 or less. First Tee of Silicon Valley is proud to partner with YOC to provide memberships through our program. Participants can register for Youth on Course cards through our registration page on our website. Additionally, we partner with YOC to promote their paid internship, scholarships, and caddying opportunities to our participants. For more information, please either visit our youth opportunity page, or go directly to the youth on course page.  www.youthoncourse.org/join.

About Youth on Course

The core purpose of Youth on Course is to help young people grow and succeed both on and off the course by providing opportunities to play, learn, grow, and build relationships through affordable, inclusive access to play. More than 100,000 members play more than 1,400 golf courses for $5 or less, benefit from career opportunities through the caddie and internship program and receive college scholarships. Headquartered in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a 501(c)3 organization that began as the charitable arm of the Northern California Golf Association. Since 2006, more than one million subsidized rounds have been played by Youth on Course members and more than $2 million has been awarded in college scholarships. Across North America, Youth on Course serves all of the United States of America and parts of Canada.

About TaylorMade

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade Golf is a leading manufacturer of high-performance golf equipment, golf balls and accessories with industry-leading innovative products like SIM2 metalwoods, SIM2 irons, P•Series irons, TP5/TP5x golf balls and Spider putters. A major force across the world’s professional tours, TaylorMade has an unrivaled athlete portfolio that includes Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, Collin Morikawa, Harry Higgs, SH Park, Charley Hull, Maria Fassi and Sierra Brooks.

Every year participants from our Ace level are selected to apply for the First Tee National opportunities. Competition for the opportunities is high and spaces are limited. To be selected, applicants must meet the requirements set forth by First Tee National, and must write several short essays, add in their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and include their letters of recommendations. Applicants from across the country apply for the limited spaces and recipients get to experience opportunities of a life time. This year we are thrilled to announce the acceptance of 9 of our Ace participants: Kelly, Borina, Rachel, Sophie, Jonathan, Nancy, Rachana, Athina, and Calvin (pictures shown left to right) to various First Tee National opportunities. Borina Sutikto and Sophie Thai were accepted to the inaugural First Tee National Championship held at Clemson University Golf Course June 20-25. They tied for 2^nd place with a three-day total of 1 over par! Congratulations to Sophie and Borina for their outstanding golf accomplishment. Click here to learn more. In June, Athina Chen, Rachana Ajjarapu, and Kelly Yu were all accepted to the Game Changers Academy to be held July 20^th-24^th in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout the four days they will take part in workshops exploring topics that encourage personal growth and promote understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community. Click here to learn more. Last week we received word that Nancy Rivera and Jonathan Tessmann were accepted to the First Tee Leadership Summit in West Creek Montana. The weeklong event in August will include collaborative workshops as well as dynamic outdoor team-building activities that will explore concepts of relationship building, positive risk taking, and identifying character strengths. Click here to learn more. Earlier this season, Borina Sutikto was one of 12 high school graduates selected from around the country (over 250 program locations nationwide) to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. The Scholarship Program supports alumni throughout their college career in an effort to further their life skill development and mentorship. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. The program also provides professional development workshops, and access to internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. Click here to read the full story and to watch the surprise video. Lastly, we learned earlier this week that four of our FTSV Ace participants were selected to the PURE Insurance Tournament supporting First Tee at historic Pebble Beach Golf Course in Monterey, CA. Rachel Troung, Calvin Kong, Sophie Thai, and Borina Sutikto were 4 of 81 top First Tee golfers from around the country selected to participate in this prestigious event. Acceptance to the PURE Insurance Championship is based heavily on their golf acumen and resume coupled with their demonstration of strong character. Each participant is paired with a top senior professional tour golfer and the tournament is televised on Golf Channel. Click here to learn more. “We are proud and excited to have Borina, Sophie, Nancy, Jonathan, Athina, Rachana, Kelly, Calvin, and Rachel represent our chapter at these national opportunities,” says First Tee – Silicon Valley Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are fortunate to have had all 9 in our program over the years and be able to watch them develop their self-management, interpersonal, and resiliency skills. They all have a positive demeanor, show care for others, and work extremely hard to be successful. What more can you ask for!” Please join us in congratulating our participants for their outstanding achievement. Acceptance to these opportunities is a product of the work they put in and the commitment they demonstrated to progress through our program. To find out more regarding our local, regional, and national opportunities please visit our youth opportunity page.

First Tee – Silicon Valley Ace participants, Borina Sutitko and Sophie Thai tied for 2^nd at the First Tee National Championship, June 20-25, 2021 at Clemson University. The first-ever event with a total of 48 players 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 collegiate or next level. Both participants are excellent golfers, who are ranked nationally and play competitive tournaments in California and all around the country. Borina practices out of Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose and Sophie practices at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto. “We were proud to see Borina and Sophie compete in this inaugural event, which provided them with a college level experience on and off the course” said George Maxe, President & CEO of FTSV. “Both participants have been part of our chapter for 9 years. We have been delighted to see them grow in character over the years and play at such a competitive level.” Clemson University’s The Walker Course hosted the inaugural Championship. During the event both Sophie and Borina had the opportunity to hear from PGA Head Golf Professional Steve Scott on how his values intersected with his experience of finishing Runner-Up to Tiger Woods in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship. Additionally, First Tee National Championship provided the participants with the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-19, who were selected based on their golf skill, competitive golf experience and handicap. Sophie scored 71, 71, and 75, while Borina scored 72, 74, 71 over the three rounds. Congratulations Sophie and Borina for their outstanding play and character throughout the tournament. FTSV is proud of you!

Athina Chen, Rachana Ajjarapu, and Kelly Yu from First Tee — Silicon Valley have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 20-24, 2021. They are three of 48 teens from the First Tee network who have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in critical conversations around issues of identity, racism, equity and empathy. Athina is a rising Senior at Henry Gunn High School and has been part of FTSV for 9 years and volunteered for 2 years. She is an Ace participant which is our top level. She has also finished her Ace project work and is pending review from First Tee National to become Ace certificated which only a handful of participants from around the country achieve each year. She is the founder of the Socially Responsible Investment Fund club at her school and wants to contribute towards transforming the world of finance to make it more diverse and inclusive specifically for women of color. Rachana is a rising Junior at Monta Vista High School and has been in our program for 8 years. She is an Ace participant and an active volunteer coach for our chapter since 2018. Outside of our program she is a member of Athletes Against Assault with the goal of promoting change within her school and community culture around safety, especially women’s safety. Kelly is a going to attend Boston College in the Fall and is Ace certified (our top honor and level). She has been in our program for 10 years and has volunteer coached for our chapter since 2017. At school she is the Director of Outreach at Coalition Z which is working to engage youth in politics and social justice. All three FTSV participants are leaders in and outside of our program and are taking action in their communities to be positive difference makers,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Acceptance in the Game Changers Academy will provide valuable lessons and experiences which will equip them with the tools to give back and make positive change. We are proud of who they are and how they want to make this world a better place, and we are excited to see them pursue their goals in order to shape the future.” “Diversity, equity and inclusion have been part of the fabric of First Tee since the beginning, and we are proud to provide an event that allows teens from across the country to go deeper on the subject,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “First Tee is about empowering these young people to be game changers in their community. Congratulations to Athina, Rachana, and Kelly for being selected from a national pool of candidates to represent First Tee — Silicon at this event.” The event will feature engaging and interactive workshops facilitated by RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations. The workshops will explore a multitude of topics that encourage personal growth and understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community. The workshops will be paired with reflections led by nationally trained First Tee coaches, team building activities such as a scavenger hunt in the city of Philadelphia and a community outreach project, and keynote speakers from the sports industry including Vice-President, Community & Inclusion for the PGA TOUR Marsha Oliver. First Tee – Greater Philadelphia will host the teens for golf outings at John F. Byrne Golf Course where they will continue to build upon their connections with other participants from around the country and hear different perspectives from their peers. First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017. Congratulations Athina, Rachana, and Kelly!

First Tee is partnering with PGA TOUR Superstore to host a first-of-its-kind, annual Leadership Summit August 2-13 at PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman and PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation Board Member Arthur M. Blank’s West Creek Ranch in Montana. Forty teenagers from across the country have been selected for the inaugural Summit. Two of the forty are going to be from First Tee – Silicon Valley. Congratulations to FTSV Ace participants, Jonathan Tessmann and Nancy Rivera for being selected!

The First Tee Leadership Summit is designed to strengthen the participants’ leadership skills through dynamic outdoor and team-building activities with the intended purpose of personal growth, education and coming together to make a difference. The robust curriculum explores concepts such as relationship building, positive risk taking, and identifying character strengths. Set in the unforgettable backdrop of West Creek Ranch in Montana, the teens will participate in outdoor activities such as fly fishing, yoga, meditation, horseback riding, archery, whitewater rafting and hiking, in which they will be encouraged to apply their learnings.

A former NFL player and motivational speaker will be a featured guest speaker along with leaders from PGA TOUR Superstore’s headquarters, including CEO and President Dick Sullivan. At the conclusion of the Summit, four students will be selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program and will receive financial support as well as access to mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout their four-year collegiate experience.

To be eligible for the Summit, teens were required to participate in the five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstores across the country this past spring. Teens also completed applications and were selected based on character-driving criteria.

Jonathan, a Sophomore at Gilroy Early College Academy in Gilroy, has been in the First Tee – Silicon Valley program since 2012. In fact, he was part of the first ever First Tee participant group at Gavilan Golf Course in Gilroy. In addition to excelling as one of our participants, he has volunteered as a junior coach since 2017 and is one of our go-to coaches at Gilroy. He is also the Vice President of his school’s debate club.

Nancy, a rising Senior at University Preparatory Academy in San Jose, has been in the First Tee – Silicon Valley program since 2017. She has taken more classes than any other FTSV participant over the past 4 years, and has succeeded at each and every First Tee level. She is also ambitious in shaping and supporting her community. She is the President of her school’s Latinx club which puts on community service events and fundraisers rooted in community development and enhancement. Additionally, she volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, San Jose Litter Pick-Up, and cooks for and passes out food at a local homeless shelter.

“Both Jonathan and Nancy are outstanding and worthy recipients of the leadership summit opportunity,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “They were standouts at our 5-part leadership series and are leaders both in their First Tee classes and in their communities. They have demonstrated a desire to give back as evident by their extensive volunteer engagements. We are proud of who they are, and how hard they work to make themselves and their community better.”

“This Summit will become a life-changing experience for the students to expand their horizons, meet new people and learn more about themselves,” said Dick Sullivan, President & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “It will be a memorable week for them to learn additional leadership skills and I am looking forward to being a part of this special event.”

“Congratulations to the 40 deserving teens selected for this inaugural event,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “It will be an inspiring week of learning and personal growth. We are grateful to Arthur Blank and PGA TOUR Superstore for supporting our mission as we work to empower the next generation through intentional and innovative opportunities like the First Tee Leadership Summit.”

For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and Mr. 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.

The Leadership Summit 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. Congratulations Jonathan and Nancy on a well-deserved honor!

https://vimeo.com/668345785

Borina Sutikto is one of twelve high school graduates selected to the First Tee College Scholarship Program based on academic performance, length and involvement in First Tee programs, financial need and commitment to volunteerism. This class of scholars includes aspiring engineers, accountants, teachers and environmental activists, all of whom will be attending stand out colleges and universities. Selected from a national pool of candidates, the Scholars represent diverse backgrounds from communities across the First Tee network. The class is comprised of eight females and four males and 59% are ethnically diverse. The Scholars’ average GPA is 4.19 on a 4.0 scale and hold an average of 1,422 out of 1,600 on SAT and 31 out of 36 on ACT. Five of the Scholars will play on their college’s golf team. Borina Sutikto is a 9-year First Tee – Silicon Valley participant, and 3-year FTSV volunteer coach. She is graduating with a 4.25 GPA and plans to study Accounting & Information Systems while playing on the women’s golf team at Santa Clara University. Go Borina! Go Broncos! “I offer congratulations and a warm welcome to our new class of First Tee College Scholars,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee. “I am proud to continue First Tee’s support of these students at such an important time in their lives – through their matriculation and beyond. These outstanding young leaders remind us how bright the future is for them and for the industries and communities they will eventually serve. We are appreciative of donors to the First Tee College Scholarship Program who make this program possible.” Applications were received from participants at 44 chapters in 28 states across the nation. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee for one-on-one interviews. First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to alumni by providing support throughout their post-graduate career. Each of the scholars are 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. First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible by donors and corporate partners who stand behind the program and First Tee’s mission, including Astros Golf Foundation, Peter A. Bonanni Scholarship Fund, Chevron Corporation, A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, Timothy W. Finchem Scholarship Fund, Paul and Ruth Flowers, Morrell Studios, Charles Schwab, TruGreen, Edward and Lisa Vaughan and Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund. Congratulations Borina on your well-deserved honor! We are fortunate to have you in our program and have you give back to the program through your coaching. We are excited for your academic future!

First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today Rachel Truong, Calvin Kong, Sophie Thai, and Borina Sutikto will represent First Tee — Silicon Valley when they compete in the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee. The event, in its 18th year, will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, September 20-26. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel. Rachel will start her college journey at Chapman University this Fall. She has been in our program since 2017, volunteered for 3 years, and has quickly become an accomplished golfer. She played for her high school team at Piedmont Hills and competed in several tournaments in Northern California. Calvin will be entering his Junior year at Monta Vista High School. He has been a volunteer coach for us since 2019 and has been a participant since 2011. He is one of the top players on his high school team, plays to a scratch handicap, and was a key member of the PGA Jr League team that made it to the National Championship. He is a long standing participant in our program having eclipsed 10 years. Sophie has been in our program for over 9 years and is a high-performing competitive golfer. She is highly ranked in California, is a 2-time Girls Golf Champion, has 3 top 3 finishes in the AJGA (top national junior golfing tour), and is first team all-league for her high school team at Los Altos. Recently she tied for 2^nd at the Inaugural First Tee National Championship. Click here to learn more. Borina has been a participant for 6 years and a volunteer coach for the past 3.5 years. She received a scholarship to play college golf at Santa Clara University this Fall. She plays to a +3.9 handicap, was the JGANC 2019 Player of the Year and Scoring Champion. She qualified for the US Girls Junior Championship, and like Sophie, tied for 2^nd in the Inaugural First Tee National Championship. Click here to learn more. In addition to meeting the rigorous golf skill requirements, each individual had to prove their demonstration of First Tee life skills and personal growth through essays and interviews. Throughout the week the teens apply the life and leadership 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. Rachel, Calvin, Sophie, and Borina will compete for the pro-junior team title. They will join 77 other teens from First Tee chapters across the country. The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today.” The reveal included surprises with PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR player Ryan Palmer, Korn Ferry Tour player Austin Smotherman and Golf Channel hosts Shane Bacon and Damon Hack that had been recorded over the last month and aired as part of the PURE Insurance Championship junior field announcement. “Congratulations to Rachel, Sophie, Borina, and Calvin who have been selected to play and represent First Tee — Silicon Valley on a national stage,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Their hard work and commitment to academic and personal growth through our programs has secured this opportunity. Thank you to our partners − PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel − for their commitment to young people and helping us provide this opportunity to these deserving teens.” This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players will feature World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh, as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winners Kirk Triplett and Jeff Sluman. 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 23 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. “We are proud to be a part of this incredible event and the support it provides to the many deserving young men and women from the First Tee,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “My participation in sports throughout my youth helped shape so much of who I am today, personally and professionally so it’s energizing to be part of an organization that sees this value and an event that supports such a worthy cause.” The junior field for 2021 PURE Insurance Championship can be viewed here. For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee, visit FirstTee.org.