The former First Tee – Greater Sacramento participant won the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 7, 2026) – First Tee congratulates Austin Smotherman on his first PGA Tour victory at the Bank of Utah Championship, held October 1-4 at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah. Smotherman finished 26-under, claiming the title by two strokes in his 100th career Tour start.
Smotherman’s road to the winner’s circle traces back to First Tee – Greater Sacramento, where he spent 10 years as a participant, beginning at age 7. The lessons in resilience and character he developed through the program have remained part of his approach to the game and to competition.
“[First Tee – Greater Sacramento] gave me everything, all the belief from such an early age, just that you’re going to be a good person, good human, and go use this game for a lot more than just cashing a check every week playing professionally,” Smotherman said in a post-tournament news conference.
Since signing on as First Tee’s inaugural Brand Ambassador in 2022, he’s led clinics, represented First Tee in interviews and displayed the nonprofit’s logo on his golf bag. This summer, Smotherman hosted a clinic for participants at the Game Changers Academy at the 3M Open, sharing his experience with the next generation of junior golfers.
“On behalf of everyone at First Tee, I extend my warmest congratulations to Austin for his victory at the Bank of Utah Championship,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “His story reflects exactly what First Tee strives to instill in young people. Over the last decade, he has demonstrated perseverance, patience and character on and off the course.”
Smotherman’s win secures him a two-year PGA Tour exemption and moves him to No. 51 in the FedExCup Fall Standings.
First Tee Ambassadors include Smotherman, professional golfer Alex Smalley, First Tee – Miami alumna and actor Kathryn Newton and actor Michael Pena.
That’s what happens when First Tee – Four Corners and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado come together for Little Swing.
Now in its third year, Little Swing continues to grow as a unique partnership built around golf, relationships, and the power of positive role models. The program brings Bigs and Littles together for a series of golf skills clinics featuring games, team-building activities, and plenty of opportunities to learn and have fun together.
The program culminates with a special play event at Hillcrest Golf Course, where each Big and Little match is joined by a member of the Fort Lewis College golf team for a mini tournament. The college golfers add another layer of mentorship, encouragement, and connection while helping participants put their new golf skills into action on the course.
For First Tee – Four Corners Executive Director Tina Pacheco-White, that combination is what makes Little Swing so special.
“This partnership is such a natural fit because both of our organizations believe in the power of mentorship. Then, when the Fort Lewis golfers join us, our participants get to experience mentorship at another level. You see Bigs encouraging Littles, college athletes encouraging our matches, and everyone building relationships through golf. It is an amazing example of what can happen when organizations work together around a shared purpose.”
Little Swing is about much more than learning to play golf. It creates a welcoming environment where young people can build confidence, practice communication and teamwork, try something new, and strengthen relationships with the caring adults and mentors around them.
After three successful years, Little Swing continues to demonstrate that when you combine golf with great mentors, everyone wins.
October means fall sports tryouts are wrapping up in gyms, fields and golf courses across the country — and for every roster that gets posted, there are kids who didn’t hear their name called. For parents, that moment can stir up lots of feelings. It can also provide a valuable learning opportunity.
At First Tee, we see failure as a First Attempt In Learning. Even the very best golfers lost more than they win, and our coaches have seen plenty of missed putts and unlucky bounces. What we’ve learned is that how a child responds to disappointment matters more than the disappointment itself.
“Resilience isn’t something young people discover after a setback,” said Kristin Westberg, senior director of program evaluation. “It’s something we build into our curriculum with intention at First Tee, so they are prepared to approach these moments proactively rather than simply react to them.”
Let them feel it before you fix it. It’s tempting to jump straight to solutions like private lessons, extra practice or a pep talk. But it can be beneficial to give disappointment a few moments to exist. At First Tee, we call this “Growing through Challenge,” and it’s one of the key commitments are participants make to themselves. Kids who are allowed to feel frustration without a parent rushing to smooth it over tend to process it faster, not slower.
Reframe the setback before it becomes the story. In a child’s mind, “I didn’t make the team” can quickly translate into “I’m not good enough.” You can help interrupt that train of thought with questions like:
What went well in tryouts?
What can we work on for next time?
What other opportunities could this open?
Separate effort from outcome, out loud. A tryout result is one data point on one day. Help your child set some goals within their control. For example, there’s no guarantee they’ll make the golf team on their next try, but they can still feel proud if they meet their standards – whether that means hitting 200 balls per week in practice or committing to a consistent pre-shot routine.
Treat resilience as a skill. It might feel like some kids are naturally more positive or less competitive than others. But just because your child takes their sport seriously doesn’t mean they can’t learn to make the most of setbacks. Resilience isn’t a personality trait but a learned skill. Encouraging your child to take healthy risks, especially when success isn’t guaranteed, can show them it’s not only alright to fail or make mistakes, but it’s inevitable. You’re giving your child a gift by teaching them to cope with the resulting feelings when the stakes are low.
Tryout season ends. But the skill of bouncing back will always be useful.
First Tee teaches concepts like FAIL and other meaningful life skills through golf at more than 1,500 program locations across the country. Find a location near you or support our efforts by becoming a First Tee Ambassador.
When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena in January 2025, it left a lasting mark on the First Tee – Greater Pasadena community.
More than a year later, recovery is still underway. Some families have had no choice but to sell their homes and relocate. Local estimates suggest some homes in the area will not be rebuilt until 2028, and Altadena Golf Course remains unusable. As First Tee – Greater Pasadena program director Mark Fritz put it, “the community still has need for us as a chapter to provide our services and resources to families.”
Facing the loss of a program site and roughly $30,000 in equipment and supplies stored at Altadena Golf Course, the chapter moved quickly. Programming was paused for just two weeks before relocating to other local courses and parks less affected by the fire, including Brookside Golf Club and Eaton Canyon Golf Course, which returned to full operation by summer 2025. In total, the chapter relocated 70 percent of its programming and added three new sites, expanding its reach in the process.
Community coming together
Support from The Toro Company’s Growing the Game Through Access & Inclusion Grant played a direct role in that response, helping the chapter replace lost equipment and keep programs running for the families who needed them most. “This grant and funding from other golf organizations and supporters allowed us to not miss a beat,” Fritz said.
With support from The Toro Company, the chapter also used existing community touchpoints to reach displaced families. Through backpack giveaway events at the Rose Bowl and National Night Out, First Tee – Greater Pasadena has connected with families affected by the Eaton Fire and those attending Title I schools, promoting its program to more than 3,000 families this summer alone.
Nearby First Tee chapters across Southern California also stepped in to help: First Tee – Los Angeles offered programming space, while First Tee chapters in Orange County, Coachella Valley, San Diego and the Inland Empire organized club drives to help replace equipment for kids who lost gear in the fire. Local country clubs hosted donation days where members brought in used clubs, and Roger Dunn Golf Shops cut them down to fit young players. East West Bank funded a clinic and lunch for families who lost their homes, with more than 100 people attending the free event.
“This event demonstrated a very strong community collaboration involving the First Tee network and chapter supporters,” said First Tee – Greater Pasadena master executive director Bob Baderian.
Looking ahead
First Tee – Greater Pasadena is now planning to extend its reach further into the community it serves. In 2026, the chapter will launch a golf program with the Pasadena Unified School District, piloting at San Rafael Elementary with fifth graders. The program will culminate in a golf clinic at Brookside and a tour of the Rose Bowl. The chapter plans to bring the model to two to three additional PUSD elementary schools in 2026.
None of this recovery happened in isolation. From The Toro Company’s grant support to donated time, space and equipment from nearby chapters, businesses and community organizations across Southern California, First Tee – Greater Pasadena’s response to the Eaton Fire reflects what the chapter’s leaders describe as the strength of the First Tee community. As the Altadena community continues its long rebuild, that network of support remains in place.
Raymundo and Haney were paired with pros Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini respectively
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2026) – After a week of exciting competition and personal growth, Naomi Raymundo of Salinas, California, and Charlie Haney of Manhattan, Kansas, are the junior winners of the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, an official PGA Tour Champions event, which concluded Sunday at Pebble Beach.
Both junior winners came from behind to claim victory. Raymundo and Cink recorded a final round 64 to finish 18-under for the tournament. They won the pro-junior girls’ title in a scorecard playoff. Haney and Sabbatini fired a final round 59 to finish 22-under, taking the pro-junior boys’ trophy by one stroke.
For nearly 25 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has provided First Tee participants with the unique opportunity to showcase the golf and life skills they’ve gained through the program. Held at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the tournament pairs 80 standout teens with PGA Tour Champions players and amateurs from the business community. The annual event was broadcast internationally on Golf Channel.
“The 80 First Tee juniors who competed this week demonstrated perseverance, character and exceptional talent on the course,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee. “We congratulate Naomi and Charlie on their outstanding victory. We are sincerely grateful to PURE Insurance, Chevron, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, PGA Tour Champions, Golf Channel and all of our generous partners for helping make this an unforgettable experience for our participants.”
Raymundo is a 17-year-old high school senior with a 3.91 GPA, and the only girl on her high school golf team. She is active in her community, recording more than 400 service hours in 2025. She is a junior coach for Special Olympics and First Tee – Monterey County, where she has been involved for 10 years. Raymundo is the second Monterey County participant to claim the pro-junior girls’ title in the last three years, after Nicole Iniakov and Ernie Els teamed up for victory in 2024.
Raymundo said she was “on the edge of my seat” while waiting for the final groups to finish. “There were so many thoughts going through my head: Pebble Beach, PURE Insurance,” she said. “This tournament is something I’ve wanted to do for so many years.”
First Tee – Monterey County participants cheered her on Sunday, following the final group up the fairway. “It shows how much of a family we are,” she said. “It shows how much of a connection we have, just how much we support each other at First Tee – Monterey County.”
Haney is a 16-year-old high school junior with an impressive golf resume. Currently No. 32 in the AJGA rankings, he is committed to play collegiate golf at Ole Miss. Haney competed at the Drive, Chip & Putt finals at Augusta in 2023. Haney has a special tie to PGA Tour Champions, having spent time with Manhattan resident Jim Colbert before he passed earlier this year.
“I got to play two amazing golf courses, and this was the best week,” Haney said. “I got to spend time with my dad and all the First Tee participants. I had such a great time with them and met some amazing people.”
Haney has been playing golf for 12 years. “That’s how I grew up through the game was First Tee,” he said. “In summer I’d be up there day until night, and that’s just where I remember being younger and having so much fun. I think that’s why First Tee is so important to me. I’ve had so much fun and learned so many things.”
During the week, First Tee’s partners PURE Insurance and Chevron celebrated their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raised additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program through special events. The program pairs select First Tee alumni with a mentor and provides professional development workshops and financial assistance throughout their college experience.
This week, leaders from PURE Insurance surprised Nyah Roccamonte-Clark of First Tee – Metropolitan New York with an invitation to become the newest member of the First Tee College Scholarship Program.
First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
Many First Tee participants work for years to earn a spot in the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that pairs golf legends and business leaders with First Tee juniors for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
First Tee juniors are selected for the field based on their golf skills and their commitment to developing life skills through First Tee. One participant who excels in both areas is Nyah Roccamonte-Clark of First Tee – Metropolitan New York.
Nyah’s path to golf began at 5, when her grandparents, who worked at Plainfield West Nine in Edison, New Jersey, enrolled her in the course’s First Tee program so she could spend her summer there while her mother worked. That early exposure sparked a passion that has carried Nyah through every stage of First Tee, from participant to volunteer to junior coach, and now to an internship with the chapter, where she logs 15 to 20 hours per week mentoring younger players.
On the course, Nyah is the top player on her high school team, and she finished 15th at the 2026 First Tee National Championship at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club. She’s committed to play collegiate golf at Monmouth University, a Division I school in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Off the course, she completed 225 hours of community service last year, while participating in her school’s STEM Connections Club and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She credits First Tee coach Chris Jefferys with teaching her patience and self-trust, lessons she says have reshaped how she competes and carries herself both in golf and in life. She aspires to pursue a career in sports psychology.
On Thursday, PURE Insurance Championship executives surprised Nyah with an invitation to join the First Tee College Scholarship Program during an event at The Hay.
PURE Insurance has been the title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship since 2017 and is a dedicated partner of the First Tee College Scholarship Program.
“The First Tee juniors are what make this tournament so meaningful for all of us at PURE,” said Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance. “Nyah is an exceptional young woman who stands out for her character, leadership and commitment to others. We’re excited to support her and watch as she continues to pursue her goals.”
Follow this week’s PURE Insurance Championship online and on Golf Channel.
Every golfer has a story about how they fell in love with the game. For Logan Cassidy, a participant with First Tee – Greater Philadelphia, that story starts with his grandfather – and it lives on in a shoebox full of scorecards.
Last Christmas, Logan’s grandfather gave him an unexpected gift: a box containing every scorecard from the rounds the two had played together over the years. It wasn’t just a record of scores. Tucked alongside the numbers were his grandfather’s handwritten notes, marking the shots Logan hit that he thought were special.
“It was a really thoughtful gift with a lot of memories,” Logan said.
It’s fitting, because Logan’s grandfather is the reason he found First Tee. He was a close friend of First Tee – Greater Philadelphia’s board president and encouraged Logan to get involved when he was just 7. From there, Logan was hooked, both on the game and on the community of kids he found through the program.
“First Tee has introduced me to great people, who also love to play golf, be around the game and care about people,” said Logan, who aspires to play collegiate golf and study business.
Nearly a decade later, Logan is one of First Tee – Greater Philadelphia’s most active participants. A senior at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, he splits his time between a rigorous course load, a competitive golf schedule and deep involvement at his chapter, where he works at John F. Byrne Golf Course and coaches younger players.
That combination of commitment and character caught the attention of his chapter, which nominated him for one of First Tee’s most prestigious opportunities: a spot in the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, September 18-20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
As he prepares to represent First Tee – Greater Philadelphia on a national stage, Logan carries with him the life skills and values the program has instilled over the last decade. Three holes-in-one, countless practice sessions in every kind of weather and a shoebox of scorecards later, the game that started with his grandfather is now taking Logan to the Pebble Beach.
The PURE Insurance Championship pairs First Tee juniors with PGA TOUR Champions legends and leaders from the business world for a week of competition and mentorship. The tournament is broadcast on Golf Channel.
Tournament season brings a familiar flutter of nerves, not just for the young golfers teeing it up, but for the parents watching from behind the ropes. It’s natural to want your child to play well. But the scorecard shouldn’t be the only measure of success.
First Tee has always believed that golf is the vehicle, not the destination. Real growth lives in the way kids react to disappointment, bounce back after obstacles and treat their follow competitors. Here’s how parents can help their junior golfer step onto the course with the right mindset.
Normalize nerves, don’t try to erase them
Nervous energy before a big round is not a problem to be solved. It’s a sign that something matters to your child, and that’s a good thing. Instead of trying to talk them out of feeling nervous, help them name it with statements like: “It makes sense that you feel that way. This is important to you.”
Using the right language as the competition approaches can also be helpful. Avoid giving the tournament too much power by adding qualifiers like “big” and “important” when discussing it with your child. Most accomplished athletes would agree that one game or tournament won’t make or break a career.
On the practical side, logistics can take over tournament day: Is the bag packed? What’s the tee time? Try discussing these things throughout the week so it doesn’t feel like you’re cramming the night before.
Try zooming out too. Ask your child what they’re excited to experience – from seeing friends to trying a new shot or playing a new course. Not only can this help relieve pressure, but it’s also an important reminder that the score isn’t the only thing that counts.
Process over outcome
Junior golfers pick up on far more than instruction; they absorb how the adults around them respond to pressure and setbacks.
Golf is a difficult sport, and the scorecard isn’t always a reflection or the effort and personal growth that took place during a round. Instead of focusing on numbers, commend your child for staying calm during a tough moment or treating their playing partner with respect. These are the moments worth celebrating and naming them out loud teaches your child that a good round and a good score aren’t always the same thing.
If your child wants to talk after their round, listen first before offering perspective. If they don’t, that’s OK too. First Tee encourages teens to take ownership over their goals – maybe that means talking them through or processing internally.
Years from now, your child likely won’t remember every shot from a junior tournament. What tends to stick are the feelings: the excitement, the camaraderie and the pride of overcoming tough moments. Celebrating those feelings, before, during and after the round, is one of the most valuable things a parent can offer on tournament day.
First Tee – Four Corners celebrated the 15th Annual Corporate Challenge, bringing together local businesses and community supporters for one of our favorite traditions of the year.
The Corporate Challenge is more than a golf tournament—it is a celebration of the businesses and organizations that invest in our community and support the mission of First Tee – Four Corners. Each year, teams take to the course with their sights set on one of the event’s most coveted prizes: the Corporate Cup!
This year, Allen Theatres claimed the title. Congratulations to team members Burke Allen, Nate Allen, Ron Dalley, and Tony Mike Jr. on earning the 2026 Corporate Cup!
The tournament also included one of its most exciting traditions—the opportunity for one lucky golfer to take a shot at a $1 million hole-in-one.
Most importantly, the Corporate Challenge is a key fundraising event supporting First Tee – Four Corners and our mission to impact young people through the game of golf. Funds raised help us provide programs that teach life skills and character values while creating opportunities for youth throughout the Four Corners.
We are grateful for the opportunity to bring so many of our supporters together for a day of golf, friendly competition, and community. Thank you to every business, golfer, sponsor, and volunteer who helped make our 15th Annual Corporate Challenge a success!
First Tee – Four Corners wrapped up its Summer Veterans League with its largest field yet, continuing the exciting growth of our programs serving veterans throughout the Four Corners.
Hosted at Riverview Golf Course, the Veterans League brings golfers together for friendly nine-hole competition, but the program is about much more than golf. It is about building community. Each week gives veterans an opportunity to get outside, enjoy the game, connect with one another, and build friendships in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
We are incredibly grateful to Basin Health Companies for supporting our efforts and helping us continue to provide this opportunity for local veterans.
The Veterans League is one part of First Tee – Four Corners’ growing commitment to serving those who have served. Our veterans programming also includes PGA HOPE, which provides golf instruction and an introduction to the game, and the Together with Veterans Golf Tournament, which gives veterans an opportunity to enjoy a fun, competitive tournament experience.
Together, these programs provide different ways for veterans to connect through golf—from learning the game to weekly league play to competition.
And we aren’t finished yet! Fall Veterans League begins September 9 at Riverview Golf Course, and we look forward to welcoming our veterans back for another great season of golf, friendship, and community.
First Tee – Four Corners was thrilled to partner with our friends at the City of Farmington and San Juan County for the first annual Buddy Games, a celebration of athletes of all abilities and the joy of competition.
Riverview Golf Course served as the host for the golf portion of the Buddy Games, bringing participants together for a fun and welcoming day on the course. Golfers played nine holes in four-person teams, giving everyone the opportunity to compete, encourage their teammates, and enjoy the game.
The Buddy Games are a great example of how sports can create opportunities for connection, confidence, and belonging. While there was plenty of friendly competition throughout the day, the focus was on celebrating each athlete and creating an experience where everyone could participate and succeed.
For First Tee – Four Corners, being part of the inaugural event was a natural fit with our commitment to making the game of golf accessible and welcoming to everyone in our community.
We are grateful to the City of Farmington, San Juan County, Riverview Golf Course, the volunteers, and everyone who helped make the first Buddy Games a success. We look forward to seeing this new community tradition continue to grow!
New school year, new teachers, new classrooms, new seat assignments, maybe even a new school altogether. For a lot of kids, all that “new” adds up to one familiar feeling: nerves.
As parents, it’s tempting to smooth things over with a quick, “You’ll be fine!” But some of the most valuable conversations happen when we slow down and make space for nervousness instead of rushing past it.
Honesty and respect are two of the lessons First Tee coaches aim to instill on the golf course, and they can be really valuable when it comes to addressing nerves heading into a new school year.
Encourage honest conversations
On the course, coaches encourage kids to be honest about their score, even when nobody’s watching and even when the number is not what they hoped for. That same kind of honesty is useful at the kitchen table in August.
Asking open-ended questions that inspire thoughtfulness can help kids better understand and process their feelings about a new school year. Try questions like:
“What’s one change you’re looking forward to about the new school year?”
“What’s one thing that feels a little uncertain right now?”
Honesty goes both ways in these conversations. Kids pick up when parents are anxious too — about carpool logistics, new schedules, a PTA role. Naming your own small uncertainties shows that nerves are normal and nothing to hide.
One important thing for parents to remember is that change is part of growing up, not a problem to fix. Show respect for your child’s feelings with phrases like:
“It’s normal that this doesn’t feel easy yet. Most things don’t feel easy on the first try.”
“You don’t have to have this figured out by Friday. Give it a few weeks.”
“Feeling a little nervous doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means it’s new.”
That kind of language takes the pressure off kids to perform confidence they don’t feel and gives them permission to grow into the new situation the same way they grow into a new golf skill: with repetition, not perfection.
It’s important to teach kids that no one gets everything right. At First Tee, we view failure as the First Attempt In Learning. Mistakes happen and help us improve next time.
The bigger picture
Here are some questions to try in the car or at dinner as your child settles into their new routine:
“What’s something your new teacher does differently than last year?”
“Who did you sit with today and what did you learn about them?”
“What’s one thing you handled today that felt a little hard?”
“How can I help you get ready for tomorrow?”
The goal is not to eliminate their nerves but to help them build a habit of being honest about their feelings, a skill that will serve them into adulthood.
Building a positive self-identity provides kids with confidence to navigate challenges, setbacks and social pressures throughout life. When children learn to see themselves as capable, valued and worthy of respect, they’re more likely to form healthy relationships and take on new opportunities.
