Las Vegas, Nevada (May 29, 2011)–Two members of The First Tee of Southern Nevada (TFTSN), Sarah Thomas, 16, and Julian Glasser, 15, along side 68 other participants representing 47 chapters of The First Tee have been selected to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, an official Champions PGA Tour event. These Las Vegas golfers are scheduled to compete July 8-10 and televised nationally on Golf Channel. They will be paired many of the legends of the game of golf. —Staff report and TFTSN press release.
This young woman and young man were selected through a process that evaluates participants' playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and character education learned through their involvement with The First Tee. More than 250 applications were submitted. Of the 70 selected to play, 47 are junior boys and 23 are junior girls. Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the event's host organization, will select eight more juniors next week to participate in the event. Overall, 78 Champions players will be teamed with 78 juniors and 156 amateurs as they compete for the title at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course.
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"We are very proud of Sarah and Julian, as well as the four other members who were not selected. TFTSN has an amazing pool of talented junior golfers and this event gives them an opportunity to show off their skills, both golf skills and life skills." said Danielle Gladd, TFTSN Executive Director in a statement. The following people served on the local selection committee. Roy Cammack, General Mills/Nature Valley Nevada Retail Supervisor/POC for Mountain & Pacific Division, Aiza Torres, General Mills/Nature Valley, Scott Nash, Regional Manager-Walmart, Steve McCracken, TFTSN Board President, Danielle Gladd-TFTSN Executive Director, Jim Hart-TFTSN Director of Golf, Samantha Clawson-TFTSN SNJGA Jr. Golf Tour Program Coordinator and John Griston-TFTSN Program Coordinator. This committee interviewed all applicants and submitted 6 names/applicants to The First Tee Home Office for final selection.
Champions players scheduled to play include World Golf Hall of Fame members Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite, along with past champions of this unique event, Craig Stadler, Scott Simpson and Jeff Sluman, who captured the title in 2008 and 2009. Chip Beck, John Cook and fan-favorite Fuzzy Zoeller have also committed. Clint Eastwood is chairman of the event and Arnold Palmer is honorary co-chair. Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course on Friday and Saturday, and on only on Sunday.