We began a special needs golf program at Quiet Waters Elementary School. The four-week golf program is for a class of twenty-four kindergarten and first grade students. Coach Robert Ferzoco is leading the classes.
Thank you to the Quiet Waters Elementary School, supervisor Alison Keenan and all the special needs staff and volunteers for their assistance in making this possible.
The James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational generously invited our Chapter to send a team to the Women’s Pro-Am and the Wednesday Pro-Am.
Senior Program Director Emily Valentine joined teen participants Taylor Pedrique, Keala Richichi, and Madyson Barone for a truly unforgettable experience– playing in the James Hardie Invitational Women’s Pro-Am at Broken Sound Club on Monday of tournament week.
To make the day even more special, the group had the honor of teeing it up alongside PGA Tour Champions player Ted Purdy, who brought pro-level insight, encouragement, and plenty of fun to the round.
“This experience wasn’t just about playing in a Pro-Am,” said Emily. “It was about showing these young women—and everyone watching—what’s possible when opportunity meets preparation.”
On Wednesday, of tournament week, three Chapter alumni were invited to play with a PGA TOUR Champions player and an NFL Hall of Famer. Chapter alumni Trevor Tarashuk, Nyla Sims and Felipe Obando were selected to play with professional Felipe Aguilar and Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle- WOW!
“The course was in perfect condition and the SWAG was incredible,” said Trevor. “I received a $450 gift card from TaylorMade, which is awesome, because I need new wedges.”
It was a special day for our alumni as Aguilar and Randle shared stories and insights on their professional careers with our alumni.
Our PGA Junior League Draft Party was a huge success! Seventy enthusiastic junior golfers came together to kick off an exciting new season, and the energy was electric from the very start.
Setting the tone for the celebration, one of our very own All-Star participants, Collin Link, wowed the crowd with an amazing electric guitar rendition of the National Anthem—a moment to remember and a perfect way to launch the season in style!
We’re thrilled to see such passion, teamwork, and sportsmanship from the very beginning, and we cannot wait for an incredible season ahead.
At just 7 years old, Kensley is already turning heads on the fairways. With a natural swing and a smile that lights up the course, Kensley is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young talents in our program, and she only picked up a golf club last year.
From the moment Kensley joined us, coaches noticed something special. A lefty with a fluid, effortless swing, she approaches every lesson with curiosity, energy, and an eagerness to improve. What’s most inspiring? She still doesn’t realize just how good she really is.
Kensley is the kind of young athlete who reminds us of what the First Tee experience is all about, developing not only golf skills, but also confidence, character, and a love for the game that will last a lifetime. As she grows with our program, we can’t wait to see her potential blossom.
The students from Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward had a great time at our clinic at Topgolf Pompano. The BGC Leo Goodwin Foundation Teen Center attended the 90-minute field trip to Topgolf Pompano.
The Boys & Girls Clubs have planned four more field trips for golf clinics at Topgolf Pompano and All Golf @ CB Smith Park over the summer.
Coach Robert Ferzoco taught the clinic with special thanks to Jill Arbogast, Teen Center Director of BGC Broward County for arranging, transporting and chaperoning the students.
Thank you to the Topgolf Pompano Team for donating the hitting bays and welcoming our team.
Our Chapter hosted an unforgettable evening at the Lauderdale Yacht Club for our Wine Tasting Fundraiser.
Thanks to the generosity of our guests, we raised an impressive $38,000 to support youth development and veterans programs across Broward County. A highlight of the evening was our silent auction, featuring a premier offering from Exclusive Resorts, one of the key sponsors of the evening.
The night was filled with exceptional wine, meaningful conversations, and a touch of elegance, as guests had the opportunity to socialize and learn about the rich history behind a beautifully curated wine selection.
A very special thank you goes to our Presenting Wine Sponsor, Caymus Vineyards, for providing an outstanding array of wines that elevated the evening’s experience. We are equally grateful to our supporting sponsors:
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Representing 22 unique First Tee Chapters, this year’s Scholar class includes 6 first-generation college students and 5 collegiate golfers.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (June 6, 2025) – The First Tee College Scholarship Program welcomes 27 recent high school graduates. Each of these Scholars was selected from a competitive national pool of First Tee teens and completed a rigorous application and interview process. In its sixth year, the program now boasts 121 current or former members, including 21 college graduates.
The 16 young women and 11 young men in this new Scholar class demonstrate a commitment to excellence both on and off the golf course, with the class averaging nearly 10 years in First Tee and an SAT score of 1450.
“I want to congratulate these 27 remarkable First Tee participants and welcome them to the First Tee College Scholarship Program,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are grateful to the donors and mentors who make this life-changing program possible. Since it launched in 2020, it has been rewarding to see our Scholars further develop in their respective fields and grow as students, golfers and people.”
The First Tee College Scholarship Program takes a multifaceted approach to supporting alumni after high school graduation. In addition to providing financial support, each Scholar is paired with a trained adult mentor to help guide them through higher education and beyond. Each of the new Scholars will also attend a pre-college retreat at First Tee Headquarters in July to meet their fellow class as well as an annual professional development conference in the winter that all active First Tee Scholars attend. Each Scholar also receives assistance with summer internship and employment placement after graduation.
Participants across the First Tee Network submitted applications to be a part of the latest Scholar class. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee for one-on-one interviews. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, community service and other criteria.
Congratulations to the 2025 First Tee Scholars:
| Name | Chapter | University |
| Micah Chiong* | Greater Chicago | Wheaton College |
| Rachel Cox# | Benton Harbor | University of Michigan |
| Peyton DeBruin* | Greater Houston | Montana State University |
| Madigan Escobar# | Coachella Valley | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Christina Fuentes | Greater Washington DC | Princeton University |
| Salloni Gill# | Greater Baltimore | Duke University |
| Avi Gupta | Metropolitan New York | University of Pennsylvania |
| Vaugh Henagan* | Northern Michigan | Augustana College |
| Isabella Herrera# | Silicon Valley | University of Southern California |
| Langston Hughes# | Greater Washington DC | Rochester Institute of Technology – RIT |
| Rida Karim# | Greater Washington DC | University of Virginia |
| Casey Knepp | Central Coast | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Jonnika Kwon | Greater Seattle | Georgetown University |
| Vinh Lai | Cleveland | The Ohio State University |
| Elle Lewis | Greater New Orleans | Tulane University |
| Lillian McGowan* | Greater Sacramento | California State University, Northridge |
| Jonathan Moon | Howard County | Hamilton College |
| Brianna Nguyen | Greater Seattle | Chapman University |
| Li An Panfil | Silicon Valley | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Jackson Perry | Salina | University of Kansas |
| Aryana Persaud | Central Florida | University of Florida |
| Henry Powell | Greater Richmond | Virginia Tech University |
| Emma Stavely | Green Valley Ranch | University of San Diego |
| Hannah Stouder* | Greater Sacramento | University of Nevada, Reno |
| Precilla Tea | Greater Pasadena | Scripps College |
| Emily Wuggazer | Manhattan | Kansas State University |
| Jake Zulueta | Greater Charlotte | North Carolina State University |
*Denotes collegiate golfer
# Denotes First Generation Scholar
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