This week, Pebble Beach hosts one of the coolest events in golf — and most people don’t even know it’s happening.
The PURE Insurance Championship gets underway at one of golf’s most iconic venues on Friday, bringing together one of the most unique fields you’ll see all season. Here’s what you should know about it.
80 teens, 52 chapters — years of preparation
This week, 80 First Tee participants, 80 PGA Tour Champions pros and 160 amateurs team up to compete in a 54-hole best-ball format for the pro-junior title.
For most of the non-pros, it will be their first time playing Pebble Beach, and they come from all over the states — 52 First Tee chapters from across the country have sent players to compete.
“These 80 teens have put in years of work at their chapters to earn this incredible opportunity,” said Greg McLaughlin, the CEO of First Tee, in an interview with PURE Insurance. “We are proud to have them represent First Tee.”
The 80 participants representing the 52 First Tee chapters have averaged 7.5 years in the program, 3.8 years of community service and 60 community-service hours. They also carry a collective 3.8 GPA, underscoring the program’s emphasis of developing young people both on and off the golf course.
How First Tee participants are chosen
Selection for the event is based on more than playing ability. Each participant must also demonstrate growth through First Tee’s youth development program, which centers on five key commitments: pursuing goals, growing through challenges, collaborating with others, building a positive self-identity and using good judgment.
Those commitments are reflected in a group of young players who have spent years building their games, pursuing their education and giving back to their communities — all core qualities that help players like reigning girls’ champion Margaret Kerr, for example, who will continue her golf career at West Texas A&M University next fall.
“Having experienced firsthand the lasting impact of youth sports,” said Katie Krum, the CMO at PURE Insurance, “I am proud to support such a worthy cause and help create opportunities for these remarkable young people to build relationships and confidence that will stay with them long after tournament week.”
While most of the 80 First Tee participants were selected to compete, two earned exemptions by finishing in the top five at the First Tee National Championship at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club in June.
Nakul Shrivastava of First Tee – Tri-Valley won the boys’ division, while Sadie Goodman of First Tee – Central Florida finished fourth in the girls’ division. Goodman was the highest-finishing girl who had not previously played in the PURE Insurance Championship, earning her a spot in this week’s field.
The PURE Insurance Championship begins Friday, with the first two rounds taking place at both Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill. After Saturday’s second round, the top 24 juniors will advance to Sunday’s final round at Pebble Beach, where a boys’ and girls’ division champion will be crowned.
