Virginia Golfer Jan / Feb 2017 | Page 15

Member Clubs

“ The First Tee has meant a great deal to me . It has been my home and provided me with the closest people in my life .”

First Tee alum Abby Portyrata has won the last two VSGA Women ’ s Amateur Championships .
CHRIS LANG
This is you and me , back at First Tee Chesterfield , having a putting contest on the practice green , and you know what ? I ’ m about to win .’”
Greater Richmond ’ s second representative to the tournament in 2012 was Abby Portyrata , who was the T-D / Sports Backers female Scholar-Athlete of the Year from Clover Hill in 2014 , the same year as Woo was at Monacan .
Portyrata , 20 , is the two-time reigning Virginia State Golf Association Women ’ s Amateur champion . She often wears First Tee logoed shirts when she is competing .
“ The First Tee has meant a great deal to me . It has been my home and provided me with the closest people in my life . There was always turmoil in my family , and life was often chaotic , but The First Tee and my friends / mentors were always there ,”
Portyrata says . “ There are a lot of fond memories , but the ones that stick out the most are the little things ; getting lunch with friends or playing football , creating new challenges and competing with each other . I cannot imagine what my life would be like if it wasn ’ t for the people I met and have come to care for deeply . I still hang around because that ’ s where I am most at home .”
vsga . org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2017 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 13