SPORTS
SWINGING FOR SUCCESS When Brandon Fowler, a junior at Robert E. Lee High School,
and former First Tee volunteer. Organizers of the outing took it
was five years old, he started taking golf lessons through the First
one step further by pairing the First Tee golfers with PGA TOUR
Tee program at Brentwood Golf Course, located off Golfair Blvd.
employees as their caddies.
on Jacksonville’s northside. At one point he considered quitting,
“The First Tee is all about mentorship,” said Jeff Willoughby,
but his coach, Ron Castillo, encouraged him with this simple
executive director of First Tee of North Florida. “[The golfers] are
advice: “Just come out here and have fun.”
going to build lifelong relationships with their caddies, whether
Fowler did just that, and he’s kept on swinging ever since. He is now an ACE level participant, the highest certification possible in the First Tee, a nationwide youth development organization that teaches life skills through golf.
it’s a mentor for career exploration or just somebody they can call on when they get stuck in a bind.” Had it not been for the First Tee, Brandon Fowler, Mombo Ngu, Grace Richards and Matthew Yang may never have stepped
“[First Tee] really helps with life goals,” said Fowler, who aims
foot onto THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. But
to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. “It’s going to help you
the moment that they confidently launched their tee shots down
get to what you want to accomplish in life.”
the fairway of the first hole symbolized what the round of golf
Earlier this summer, Fowler, alongside three fellow
was all about:
participants from First Tee, accomplished one of his goals:
“Anything is possible,” said Ngu. “Me being here and
teeing it up on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
hopefully some kid who is clicking on that screen seeing my face
for the very first time. The Stadium Course is best recognized
would be encouraged to say, ‘Hey, why not do something that
for its 17th hole, the ‘Island Green,’ and is also home to THE
everyone else says isn’t for me?...You can do whatever you want
PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament
as long as you have your heart and passion for it.”
that has been won by the game’s top players: Jack Nicklaus. Fred
So, what’s next for this talented foursome?
Couples. Tiger Woods. Rory McIlroy…the list goes on.
Brandon Fowler shared his new goal without hesitation: “I’m
The round was made possible thanks to the generosity of
going to try my best to get back here.”
Chet Stokes, general manager at Marsh Landing Country Club
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