First Tee Youth Compete in Optimist Junior Golf Championships Three Qualify for International Event
The First Tee of Greater New Orleans sent five local participants to the Optimist Junior Golf Louisiana Qualifying Tournament held at The Wetlands Golf Course in Lafayette , LA on Saturday , June 10th . Participants played for the opportunity to advance and earn an invitation to The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships , held at PGA National Resort and Spa July 20-Aug . 4 .
Three participants from The First Tee of Greater New Orleans qualified for the Championship event at PGA National . Logan Batiste , 12 , from Slidell , shot a + 27 for the three round event and finished in T-38 for the Boys 12-13 Championship July 22-24 . Carlo Carino , 17 , from Harvey , will compete in the Boys 16-18 Championship , and Angelica Harris , 18 , from Harvey , will compete in the Girls 15-18 Championship . Both will compete Aug . 1-3 .
The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships is one of the largest and best-known junior golf tournaments in the world . Each year , more than 600 golfers participate in THE OPTIMIST . Optimists have been involved in the sport of junior golf for more than 30 years by hosting local , regional and international tournaments . More than 5,000 golfers compete in official Optimist District qualifying tournaments . Former champions and top finishers include Lexi Thompson , Beth Bauer , Jonathan Byrd , Jason Day , Bill Haas , Brittany Lincicome , Jeff Overton , Stacy Prammanasudh and Jennifer Rosales .
“ Angelica , Carlo and Logan are all great ambassadors for The First Tee of Greater New Orleans ,” said First Tee Executive Director Chip Patterson . “ In addition to each one of them being accomplished golfers , all three are great young people . Carlo and Angelica both recently received scholarships to attend college and will be leaving us this fall , but I know both of them will stay engaged in their communities and the game of golf when they go off to school . They both serve as great role models for younger participants like Logan . I ’ d encourage all parents to enroll their children in The First Tee program – the younger they start with us , the more they ’ ll learn with us .”
The First Tee provides out-of-school time programs for youth ages 5-18 that teach character education , healthy habits and life skills , through the game of golf . For more information about The First Tee of Greater New Orleans and their fall programs , visit www . thefirstteenola . org . The First Tee ’ s fall afterschool and weekend classes will begin on Sept . 6th and registration opens online at their website on Friday , Aug . 5th .
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