Pleasanton Teen Selected to Play on Champions Tour in Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach

The First Tee of the Tri-Valley is sending three of their most talented members to compete in the 2014 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, an official Champions Tour event that will be held September 26-28 and televised internationally on Golf Channel. Josh McCarthy, Kayli Lujan and Paige Phillips will join 80 other participants from The First Tee chapters for the event, which is in its 11th year.

“Nature Valley is proud to be associated with this event, and thrilled to see these juniors get the call of a lifetime,” said Joe Ens, vice president of marketing at General Mills. “The First Tee is doing incredible work helping young people learn important life lessons like the Nine Core Values. We look forward to welcoming Kayli, Josh, Paige and the full junior field at this year’s tournament.”

The three teens were selected by a national panel of judges who evaluated playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and character education learned through their involvement with The First Tee. More than 150 applications were submitted. Champions Tour players committed to play include two-time Nature Valley First Tee Open winner and defending champion Kirk Triplett, Charles Schwab Cup contenders Jay Haas and Kenny Perry and a number of World Golf Hall of Fame members.

Josh McCarthy is a junior at De La Salle High School. An eight year member of the First Tee of the Tri-Valley, Josh is an NCS Scholar Athlete, finishing runner-up at this year’s EBAL and was a first-team all-league selection.McCarthy shot a 68 at the NCS Tournament of Champions and a 68 for second place at the NorCal tournament. He shot a 73 at the state tournament to tie for 16th

Paige Phillips, a junior at Monte Vista High School, is an Ace Level member of The First Tee of the Tri-Valley. Named to the 2013 Second Team All Conference, Paige has an 18 hole scoring average of 75.6.

Kayli Lujan, an Amador Valley High School senior has made great strides since first picking up the game of golf just four and a half years ago, breaking 80 for the first time at EBAL Championships and again at NCS Championships.McCarthy, Phillips and Lujan and their fellow junior competitors will be teamed with 81 Champions Tour players and 162 amateurs as they compete for the pro-junior title at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course. Play will be conducted on these courses on Friday and Saturday, and the final round will be played on Pebble Beach Sunday. Andrew Zeller, Executive Director of The First Tee of the Tri-Valley, expressed the pride the chapter feels to have three representatives at the event.

“The First Tee of the Tri-Valley will celebrate its ten year anniversary in October. Each of these athletes exemplifies the values and skills we work to promote every day. For them to have the opportunity to play in an event of this caliber is a great reward for the time and dedication they have put into getting all they can from themselves and the program.”

The First Tee of the Tri-Valley is one of 177 chapters around the country and in select international locations. Serving the local community since 2005, more than 20,000 young people have been served through chapter programs and The First Tee National School Program. The programs are focused on building character through The First Tee Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.

To learn more about The First Tee of the Tri-Valley, visit www.thefirstteetrivalley.org. For more information on the 2014 Nature Valley First Tee Open, visit www.thefirstteeopen.com. For more information on the McCarthy, Phillips and Lujan, to request an interview or photos, please contact Laura Hadley at thefirstteetrivalley@gmail.com.

Information submitted by First Tee of the Tri-Valley

Photo via Shutterstock.