Author: lross

Indiana’s second Ace Level distinguished participant is Zoe Brock of Richmond. Brock recently finished the highest level of certification from First Tee and was celebrated at a ceremony with some of her First Tee peers, including Indiana’s other Ace, Sam Roberts. Brock is one of more than 170 participants since 2006 to achieve Ace certification.

“I loved coming to First Tee in the summers,” said Brock. “Throughout the Ace journey specifically, I just learned so much about myself as a person because you talk a lot about what you want to do with our life and college. The Ace project is when I answered those questions.” She will be attending Ball State University next year and will receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Indiana Golf Foundation for her First Tee achievements.

To become Ace-certified, participants must complete four major projects centered on Community Service, Career, Educational Opportunities and Golf – which are then submitted and reviewed by a national committee.

Brock has been a participant at First Tee — Indiana in Richmond since she was 8 years old thanks to the influences of her grandfather and parents. She also was recently crowned Miss Wayne County and credits First Tee’s Nine Core Values as the reason why she was able to compete for that title.

Ace certification is the final step and the pinnacle of the First Tee program. Participants can work toward Ace certification after completing PLAYer, Par, Birdie and Eagle level certifications. The certification process requires a higher level of personal planning through First Tee’s programs that includes interpersonal communication, self-management, goal-setting, self-coaching, and resiliency skills – building an important foundation for success in higher education and career planning.

Congratulations Zoe from all of your First Tee-Indiana staff and community!

First Tee – Indiana was among the 25 Chapters across America that received an IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) grant honoring a quarter-century partnership between the USGA and First Tee. The USGA’s IDEA Grant Program provided 25 chapters with grants ranging from $5,000 – $25,000, celebrating 25 years of growing the game through youth based initiatives. This program is committed to breaking down the barriers to participate in golf and First Tee programs, as well as ensuring that recreational golf continues to thrive. 

The specific community partnerships that the grant will aid include the Douglass Golf Course Program, Madison County Minority Health Coalition; Spring Break Advancement Academy, the Tippy Stars Sports Team in Lafayette, and the Carver Community Center in Kokomo. We felt that these partnerships would benefit the most from receiving funding.

Douglass Golf Course Program

The Douglass Golf Course remains as one of the most accessible golf courses in the city and in 2021, we experienced that accessibility in full circle when First Tee introduced programming there. We were able to impact over a 100 kids and teens through various partnerships with other youth serving organizations in the area. Of those 100 kids and teens the majority of them were not only brand new to golf but had never stepped foot on a golf course before. Douglass is our only free site for participants, meaning that any kid or teen who wants to participate can do so at no cost to them. This grant funded us for continued golf course access and coach payment support, as well as additional class equipment.

“We are grateful for grants like this that helped us impact a record number of kids and teens that otherwise wouldn’t have the chance at Douglass” says Taylor Haudek, Site Director of Indianapolis First Tee – Indiana. 

Carver Community Center 

A new opportunity that is arising for First Tee -Indiana participants is programming at the Carver Community Center in Kokomo, Indiana. We have a new First Tee Coach and PGA Professional who will be implementing the First Tee Community Program both at the Carver Center and the Kokomo American Legion Golf Course. With this being a newly formed program, we are in high need for developmental funding. This grant has provided our Chapter with start-up money for program equipment, class materials/golf course access, and scholarship offerings. 

Madison County Minority Health Coalition,  Advancement Academy

In 2022, we took part in a two-week Spring break camp and a one-week Fall break for kids in the Anderson Community School Corporation through the Madison County Minority Health Coalition. The camps introduced golf to its students for the first time with First Tee Community Program equipment and the help of our First Tee staff and a local First Tee Coach. We provided information to the students about our programming at local golf courses. For the next camp, we will be purchasing K-5 equipment and providing scholarship funds for First Tee class sessions. This grant dispersed money for equipment and scholarship offerings. 

“Last year during Spring Break we had approximately 300 students.  This year for Fall Break we have a little over 800 students! The program is growing by leaps and bounds!” says Betsy Pearson from the Madison County Minority Health Coalition. 

Tippy Stars Sports Team/First Tee Night, Lafayette, Indiana 

For the last three years, our Lafayette First Tee location has partnered for an evening with the Tippy Stars special needs team for a golf skills challenge night. First Tee participants partner with a Tippy Stars player and guide them through a putting, chipping and hitting challenge course. With the USGA grant funds, we purchased golf clubs and balls for each Tippy Stars player to take home and safely use to practice indoors or outdoors.

“It’s a special night to be able to work with the Tippy Stars kids alongside our First Tee participants. It’s great to see how we can use golf to get us playing together. At the end of our night this year, all of the Tippy Stars received a golf club, ball and target to practice on their own. Hopefully their interest in golf has grown over the past three years that we have done this event, and they will want to join us in a full class soon” said Dan Ross, PGA Pro and First Tee Coach. 

First Tee – Indiana  is thrilled to use this USGA grant to continue supporting communities through community partnerships, financial assistance, free access, scholarships, and Youth on Course. 

Donate to First Tee – Indiana here. 

Final Results 

High School Girls

Alivia Carlisle – Indy 78

Demi Bolin – Indy 82

Jenna Noort – Northwest 86

Zoe Cline – Richmond 91

Faith Lee – Northwest 92

Baylee Wissler – Richmond 92

Lauren Lacey – Richmond 101

Celia Florkowski – Michiana 109

High School Boys 

*round shortened to 14 holes

Maddox Geyer – SouthCentral 62

Kellen Eder – Indy 62

Zach Geleott- Northwest 66

Charlie Tamasasky – Michiana 66

Tatsu Granvender – Michiana 72

Jaden Wong – Indy 74

Theo Thurmond – Indy 74

Micah Daniels – Richmond 78

Garrett Kretsinger – Foxcliff 96

Eric Harrison – Indy 96

Gabe Kruzendoerfer- SouthCentral 98

Sam Reising – Richmond NC

Nick Wills-Northwest NC

Boys 11 & Under

*round shortened to 8 holes

Sully Mammolenti – Michiana 39

Zach Brewer – Michiana 43

Logan Wang – Lafayette 46

Cash Gillaspy-Seymour 48

Girls 12-13

*round shortened to 6 holes

Camley Whitfield – Orange County 33

Josselyn Moran-Indy 34

Dionna Bohlinger – Lafayette 38

Olivia Patton – Indy 40

Ashlynn Sessler – Michiana 45

Leah Gradeless – Michiana 51

Boys 12-13

* round shortened to 8 holes

Carson Scheiben – Richmond 32

Blayze Chapman – Indy 36

Edison Armbrester – Indy 37

Noah Kruzendoerfer – SouthCentral 38

Kellen Laird – Richmond 42

Dallas Byerley – SouthCentral 42

Levi Gustine – Michiana 43

Brody Haaff – Orange Co. 47

Reggie Osborn – Richmond 53

Ethan Reynolds – Columbus 54

Grant Kretsinger – Foxcliff 62

Connor Jarrett – Indy 63

Liam Lawyer – Indy 73

Devin Lathan – Foxcliff NC

Elijah Wagner – Indy NC

Overall Team Results  

Locations with 4 or more players were divided into teams of 4.  If a location had enough players for more than 1 team, teams were selected either by their coach or by random draw.  The format is best score on a hole for 9 holes. 

Indy Team #1 Score

Alivia Carlisle, Kellen Eder, Olivia Patton, Theo Thurmond  32

Richmond Team #1

Carson Scheiben, Micah Daniels, Reggie Osborn, Zoe Cline 33

Richmond Team #2

Baylee Wissler, Sam Reising, Lauren Lacey, Kellen Laird 34

Indy Team #3

Demi Bolin, Blayze Chapman, Edison Armbrester, Liam Lawyer 35

Northwest

Faith Lee, Jenna Noort, Nick Wills, Zach Geleott 36

South Central

Maddox Geyer, Dallas Byerley, Gabe Kurzendoerfer, Noah Kurzendoerfer 38

Michiana Team # 2

Celia Florkowski, Charlie Tamasasky, Leah Gradeless, Ashlynn Sessler 39

Lutzke and Stacy attended this five-day learning and empowerment academy and participated in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity and inclusion. The Academy builds throughout the week into a final outreach project in collaboration with DE&I leadership in the local host community. 

Lutzke’s favorite part of the trip was going to downtown Philadelphia for the scavenger hunt. “It was fun to go around the city and see how big it is. This trip has allowed me to see a beautiful city with so much history behind it.” He also reflected, “My biggest takeaway from the Game Changers Academy would have to be that my perspective of diversity has changed and hearing everyone’s stories about their personal experiences with discrimination has made me want to stand up and say that discrimination is wrong and it needs to be stopped.”

Stacy reflected a similar sentiment, “I learned the differences between equity and equality, I learned about privilege and how we should use it to help those less fortunate, and I learned a lot about foreign countries and America thanks to the fact that I was lucky enough to be able to play golf with the former US Ambassador of Morocco.” He also had a favorite fun part in “…the water balloon fight. It was a big surprise and everyone was really into it!”

Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., First Tee’s CEO who retired in 2017 after 17 years of leadership, has always been an advocate for social justice and believes that First Tee has and always will be more than a game to young people. First Tee Game Changers Academy is the ultimate tribute to Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a fearless champion of change. 

This Academy is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. 

Esther Etherington of Richmond has been selected as one of 25 Scholars to join the First Tee College Scholarship Program’s Class of 2022. The First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to First Tee alumni across the U.S.by providing support throughout their post-graduate careers. Etherington will be paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide[him/her]throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in person throughout the year, and $5,000 per year toward tuition. Etherington has been attending First Tee programs in Richmond, Indiana for 8 years.

Esther Etherington, First Tee – Indiana

Graduating from Richmond Bowie High School in Richmond, IN

“I learned resiliency during my time at First Tee through the health issues I faced during my journey with First Tee. Throughout the whole process, I always could see the selfless service that my coaches extended towards me and other campers at First Tee. Many coaches in my local chapter volunteer on a consistent basis, without pay. They inspired me to invest in others and encouraged me to overcome trials and battles faced in life with a positive attitude.”

Esther Etherington

This is the largest class of First Tee College Scholars to date and a significant milestone as the youth development organization celebrates 25 years of helping young people build their strength of character through golf.