Naples, Florida (February 2022) – Julian Alonso and Ty Kaufman of The First Tee of Naples/Collier teamed together to win the 15th Golf to Paradise-First Tee Champions Challenge played from Friday through Sunday as part of the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO.
Alonso and Kaufman finished with a score of 96, two better than Caroline Gilreath and Slade Aliff of Roanoke Valley. Ava Heaton and Brant Dattilo of the Triangle were third with a score of 101.
“We are extremely proud of Ty and Julian representing our chapter during the Golf to Paradise event,” said Cindy Darland, the executive director of The First Tee of Naples/Collier.
Ten First Tee chapters were represented and played three different formats and three different courses. The two-person team played a scramble at The Moorings on Friday, a better-ball format at Royal Poinciana, and an alternate shot format on the Flamingo Course at Lely Resort.
The chapters did more than play golf. They participated in a clinic on Thursday with PGA Tour Champions players, took part in the “Keep Collier Beautiful Beach Clean Up” on Saturday morning, and also had a cruise on the Naples Princess.
Collier County tourism bureau and Premier Packaging sponsored the event.
“It was truly a pleasure to have all the chapters participate and we thank Chubb and (Collier County tourism) and Premier Packaging for sponsoring this event,” Darland said.
The other chapters were from Greater Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Twin Cities, Chicago, and West Michigan.
The First Tee – Naples/Collier is a positive youth development program that offers opportunities to children ages 7 – 18 years of age to learn/apply its 9 Core Values and positive character traits through the game of golf. The First Tee – Naples/Collier is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 2007.