RHS Golfers Set to Compete in Champions Tour Event

Two golf players will be among 70 participants selected to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, a Champions Tour event set for July 8 to 10. The event will be televised nationally on the Golf Channel.

Twin brothers Lyle and Oliver Rudnicki just finished their junior year at RHS. Oliver has participated in Seattle’s First Tee program since its inaugural year and in 2010 was one of 27 golfers to be selected for The First Tee PLAYer Advanced Academy. Oliver also received the Fred Tattersall Most Improved Player Award and competed in the Junior World  State qualifying tournament in Tumwater, Wash.

Lyle Rudnicki is also a standout student and golfer. This past school year he took three AP classes and competed in the Washington Junior Golf Association State Tournament. A golfer since age 7, he joins his brother as a 3-handicap golfer. Lyle also played in the 2010 First Tee Open and aspires to play golf at the collegiate level.

The 70 participants at the upcoming event at Pebble Beach represent 47 chapters of The First Tee and were chosen from more than 250 applicants. Participants were selected through a process that evaluates playing ability and comprehension of the life stills and character education learned through their involvement with The First Tee.

Champions Tour 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 to compete in the event, which has a $1.8-million purse.

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 Pebble Beach only on Sunday. 

—From a First Tee news release