Local Junior Golfer Headed to Pebble Beach for Nature Valley First Tee Open

Will Holmgren of and a member of the "The First Tee" program is heading to the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Californina next week to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open.

Holmgren, 15, attends and has been playing golf for 11 years.  He has a handicap of 3.4 and has been an active member of First Tee for six years.

He was selected by a national panel of judges that evaluates participants’ playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and character education learned through their involvement with The First Tee.

More than 180 applications were submitted. Overall, 81 juniors, ages 15-18 will be teamed with 81 Champions Tour players and 162 amateurs as they compete for the title at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course.

“The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach is an opportunity of a lifetime for the young people in our program,” says Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive of The First Tee. “Playing at world-renowned golf courses alongside Champions Tour players, the event provides our participants the chance to showcase not only their golfing abilities but also the core values developed through The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience. We are very grateful for the generosity of Nature Valley.”

Nature Valley and the Champions Tour have partnered with The First Tee to promote The First Tee Life Skills Experience, which gives young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.

The tournament runs July 6-8.

Garrett Turnacliff of Elk River and another member of the Three River's Park District's "The First Tee" program was also selected to compete in the tournament.