(PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee Published 10/8/26)FTSV participants Suri Lau, Annie Lu and Arden Xu were selected for and competed in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in September. All players conducted themselves with respect and kindness, building lasting relationships while playing golf in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
“The PURE Insurance Championship was exactly what everyone had hyped up the event to be!” said Arden Xu. “Obviously, as a Bay Area kid, playing Pebble Beach Golf Links has been a dream of mine ever since I picked up a golf club. Playing the iconic 7th hole and 18th hole felt like a dream come true. Not only that, but this event was about the quality of the First Tee as an organization. Everything about the PURE Insurance Championship embodies First Tee’s Five Key Life Skill Commitments, and it’s an exemplary model of what the First Tee’s overall mission is. All of the First Tee staff, as well as First Tee Silicon Valley, put the players first, and every detail about the event was meticulously crafted to make it as enjoyable as possible. As First Tee often says, it was a truly life-changing experience.”
“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to play at the PURE Insurance Championship.” Suri Lau humbly described. “Every day was full of friendly people, delicious food, long-lasting memories, and beautiful views of Pebble Beach. It is such an honor to represent Silicon Valley for this tournament. My experience really strengthened my First Tee values and life lessons. I definitely recommend others to participate in this event.”
For more than 20 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has provided selected First Tee participants from around the country with the unique opportunity to showcase the skills and values they’ve gained through their respective First Tee Chapters. The tournament pairs 80 standout teens from First Tee Chapters nationwide with PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business community. The teens were selected by a national panel of judges who evaluated their essays, letters of recommendations, and golf resume. Throughout the week, our three participants competed in the prestigious tournament, got to eat meals with the professional golfers, and were able to network with their peers and tournament golfers. The annual event was broadcast internationally on Golf Channel and took place September 18th – 20th.
In addition to our participating teens, our chapter organized a field trip that brought 36 FTSV teen participants to cheer on Suri, Annie, and Arden. Thanks to the generous grant by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, our field trip teens rode to Monterey in style with a charter bus. During their time at Pebble Beach, the teens enjoyed walking the course, taking pictures, and watching the pros in action. One group even followed Arden for much of the day, proudly cheering him on every step of the way! Everyone also made sure to explore all that Pebble Beach has to offer, from the market and shops to the beautiful museum. Taking in the sights and enjoying the scenery was an added bonus to an already unforgettable day. It was a wonderful opportunity for our teens to come together, support their fellow participants, and experience the excitement of professional golf firsthand.
Congratulations to all the athletes and thank you to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for hosting First Tee – Silicon Valley!
If you are interested in learning more about the First Tee National Opportunities and the selection process, please click here or email [email protected].