The 2nd Annual Golf Channel Invitational for The First Tee (7th Annual
Invitational for The First Tee) was held this past weekend at Callaway
Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. Fourteen chapter teams competed in the
Chapter Challenge. In a close competition, Massachusetts won with New
Hampshire second, followed closely by Augusta Team 1 third, Atlanta
Team 2 fourth, Met NY and East Lake 1 tied for fifth. Teams came from
all over Georgia, Tennessee, NY, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas.
The Metropolitan New York consisted of Kuriko Tsukiyama, Matthew Lyons,
Parker Mann and Paul Toohey. In the Corporate Challenge, thirty-two teams of four
corporate sponsors and a First Tee Captain competed. In this competition, Team
Tsukiyama, which won its division, finished overall 4th, Team Lyons 6th, Team
Mann 7th and Team Toohey in 8th place.
At the banquet dinner on Sunday evening, The First Tee CEO Joe Louis
Barrow introduced Matthew Lyons of Met NY and Xavier Hereford of TFT
Troop County. They both spoke of what The First Tee means to them and
then about playing in the Golf Channel Invitational.
Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the
World of Golf Hall of Fame, Todd Lewis and Tom Abbot of The Golf
Channel, and Trick Master Peter Johnke also spoke this evening.
Organizers John Warren and Bobby Reardon, as well as Tournament
Director Jim (JT) Thompson presided over the festivities for over 600
attendees.
Chilly weather greeted the participants on Saturday and Sunday, but by
Monday’s Corporate Challenge, it warmed up a bit and the sun finally
graced us with its presence.
Also in attendance were Hall of Fame LPGA player Carol Mann, Champions
Tour players Allan Doyle and James Mason and LPGA professional Angela
Jerman (who played golf with Kuriko).
For additional pictures of the event click here
*Special Thanks to John Lyons for story and photos*
