Category: News

Big SHOUTOUT to the Breakers staff for their tremendous efforts in helping us with intense turf and landscape cultural practices at our golf facility. Members of the Breakers’ golf course and landscape maintenance crews have been out multiple times this summer verticutting and aerating our tees and greens. Greens were top-dressed and the sand brushed into the holes. Each time, all the greens were rolled to smooth them out.  They also helped us install new plant materials, cleaned up our planting beds and trimmed all the shrubs.

The Breakers Palm Beach strives to make a difference in the world. Through Volunteer Time Off (VTO), they empower their staff to use work time to volunteer, and to further inspiring their employees to inject energy and enthusiasm into the local community. Chapter Director Mark Reid inspires his hotel and golf course maintenance teams through the VTO program to assist our Chapter by providing agronomic and landscape assistance at our Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park.

“People come out and see our incredible turf conditions and are truly amazed,” said Chapter President Bobby Hendel.  “The Breakers plays such a huge role for us to provide fantastic turf conditions to our children and veterans.”

Florida Southern men’s golf team won their opening tournament with a four shot victory at Orange County National in Orlando. The Moccasins defeated teams from No. 1 Barry and No. 2 Nova Southeastern. 

Chapter alumnus Tyler Mistretta scored in the top 15 with a one-over 217 over the 54 holes, with his final round score of 69 (-3). Mistretta, a redshirt sophomore, and the 2023 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year, made two birdies in his first three holes of the final round before concluding with five total birdies for the day.

Florida Southern started the day in third place, three strokes off the two-round leader Coker, flipped the script going 12-under Tuesday, the best round by any team for a round at the NCAA National Championship Preview with 852 (-12). 

Congratulations to chapter participant Jordan Reyes for making the Jupiter High golf team this year as a freshman! 

“Pretty awesome accomplishment,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta Jr. “Jupiter’s boys’ team is number one in the state. Way to go Jordan!”

Chapter students Davis Lucas and Alyssa Cleckly advanced from the BallenIsles Junior League team to the All Star Team and then qualified for Regionals in Fairhope, Alabama.  They advanced after a four-hole playoff where Davis hit the pin for a tap in birdie.  The team played great at Regionals, but did not advance to the Finals.

Congratulations to Chapter student Valentina Guertin for winning the SFPGA Labor Day Classic at PGA National! 

“I am so happy to have won after a long 3 days,” said Valentina. “My putter was on fire, making a total of 12 birdies. It helped me keep the lead all 3 days. The conditions were tough, but I managed to stay consistent.”

The Labor Day Classic is one of South Florida’s new junior majors. The Labor Day Classic is a 54-hole event conducted by the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. 

Chapter student Sydney Rogers (pictured left) was chosen for the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia. This is a five-day learning and empowerment academy. Students selected to attend the academy participated in important conversations involving issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position our teens to be advocates for justice and social change in their current and future communities. First Tee Game Changers Academy is the ultimate tribute to our former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a fearless champion of change.

Our Fall programs are beginning.  Enroll your children at one of our 15 Palm Beach County Program Locations.

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

Chapter students Zoe Shamy and Wylie “Coyote” Inman are playing in the ultimate First Tee student opportunity this week- the Pure Insurance Championship.  They will be playing in this televised event paired with a PGA Tour Champions professional at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

Make sure to tune in to Golf Channel this weekend to watch them play.

Friday Sept 22, Saturday Sept 23, Sunday, Sept 24

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  EST

Want to play at Pebble Beach? Enroll your child in a First Tee program. It is the only way to qualify.

This month our country remembers all of those lost on September 11, 2001.

Michael Bradley Finnegan died tragically that day while working at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center. He lived in the moment and made moments with him memorable. He loved his family and was adored by everyone who knew him. 

Mike’s family established the Michael B. Finnegan Foundation in 2002 to honor Mike’s memory and spirit by continuing his way of living life: giving generously.

In 2004, The Michael B. Finnegan Foundation became a Founding Partner of First Tee – Palm Beaches.  We named our 12-acre driving range and 9-hole par-3 golf course “The Michael B. Finnegan Golf Learning Center” to honor Mike’s memory and legacy.