70 Junior Golfers Selected to Play in Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach

Seventy junior golfers from The First Tee have been selected to play in the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach presented by Nature Valley, an official Champions Tour event that will be held September 4-6 during Labor Day weekend and televised nationally on GOLF CHANNEL.

As one of the most unique and popular events in golf, the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach annually attracts an all-star lineup of Champions Tour players including World Golf Hall of Fame members Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson and Gary Player, among others.

Two selection events for 123 boys and girls ages 14-18 were held for young people that participate at The First Tee Chapters nationwide. Thirty-nine girls competed for 22 spots while 84 boys vied for 48 invitations. The girls’ event was conducted July 7-11 in Rye, NH while the boys’ event was held July 14-18 in Rogers, Ark.

The selection process evaluates participants’ playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and core lessons learned through involvement with The First Tee.

To round out the final field of 78 juniors that will compete in the tournament, the host organization, The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will award eight exemptions.

The following junior participants have been selected to play:

Brik Brauburger Northwest Arkansas AR

Michael Guardiola Phoenix AZ

Sal Guardiola Phoenix AZ

Blake Toolan Phoenix AZ

Wesley Levanduski Central Coast CA

Briana Mao Greater Sacramento CA

Alex Gibbs Greater Sacramento CA

Austin Smotherman Greater Sacramento CA

Ashley Noda Greater Sacramento CA

Taryn Yee Greater Sacramento CA

Will Scarlett Greater Sacramento CA

Esther Rojas Modesto CA

Kathleen Rojas Modesto CA

Nathan Winn Monterey County CA

John Louie Monterey County CA

Wally Gonzalez San Diego CA

Madilena Mendiola San Diego CA

Alexandra Wong San Francisco CA

Andrea Wong San Francisco CA

Ryan Rankin San Jose CA

Reuben Torres South Los Angeles CA

Rachelle Reali Tri-Valley CA

Natalie Bodnar Tri-Valley CA

Travis Rowney Tri-Valley CA

Carly Goldstein Broward FL

Kelly Allen Jacksonville FL

Lavanty Simonis Lakeland FL

Melissa Edmonson Miami FL

Rene Kelly Naples/Collier FL

Ashleigh Ryals Northwest Florida FL

Ericka Schneider Sarasota/Manatee FL

Evan Glanville Atlanta GA

Malcolm Perry Atlanta GA

Garreth Carpenter Augusta GA

Samuel Odi Augusta GA

Sterling Tran Augusta GA

Louis Reisman III Savannah GA

Hart Thompson Savannah GA

Christopher Davis Greater Rockford IL

Gianna Misenhelter Greater Kansas City KS

Thatcher Keast Salina KS

Will Bishop Lexington KY

Timothy Harris Greater New Orleans LA

Karthikeya Menta Montgomery County MD

Brett Denap Greater St. Louis MO

Preston Matchett Montana MT

Dalton Gore Brunswick County NC

John Dunlap Sandhills NC

Caroline Ellington Triangle NC

Justin Thomas Triangle NC

Alex Phillips Northern Nevada NV

Xander McDonald-Smith Nassau County NY

Patrick Fahey Western New York NY

Jeff Cockerham Akron OH

Paul Chirdon Cleveland OH

Josh Bernard Tulsa OK

Brandon McDade Tulsa OK

Calvin Flax The Children's Course OR

Ian Bellah Philadelphia PA

Evan Myer Pittsburgh PA

Nick Redondo Pittsburgh PA

Clifton Jordan Memphis TN

Isaiah Huerta Dallas TX

Nicklaus Janss Greater Austin TX

Elena Warren Greater Austin TX

Tezira Abe Houston/FM Law Park TX

Sara Diaz San Antonio TX

Robert Bose Hampton Roads VA

Gavin Parker Richmond & Chesterfield VA

Lindsay Chinn Greater Seattle WA