marketing – First Tee – Greater Baltimore

Two Recent Graduates Caddying At BMW Championship Are The Latest Recipient Of The Evans Scholarship

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ) — The BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club is more than just a stop on the PGA Tour. It is also helping some local caddies take the next step in their academic career.

All of the proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full college tuition and housing for caddies across the country.

“It pretty much means I have the chance to go to college which has been a dream of mine,” said Varada Maulkhan, one of the latest recipients of the Evans Scholarship who recently graduated from Catonsville High School.

Maulkhan was awarded the scholarship after caddying dozens of rounds at the Baltimore Country Club and at Caves Valley.

Only about 300 caddies across the country are selected for the program based on their academics, financial need and caddy record.

Maulkhan is caddying at the BMW Championship for 14-time PGA Tour winner, Justin Thomas.

“To be a part of it, it’s a lifetime opportunity for me. I am so happy I get to be part,” she said.
Dulaney High School graduate Rebecca Lannon was also awarded the scholarship.

“I didn’t know what would happen when I applied. I just kind of applied, hoped it would work out and then it did and it’s super cool,” said Lannon.

Both caddies will attend the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall, a new university partner for the Evans Scholar Foundation.

“These two young ladies will be the first Evans Scholars in our history, which is 90 plus years, to be at the University of Maryland and we’re very hopeful that there will be 40 to 50 students there in the very near future,” said John Kaczkowski, President and CEO of Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation.

You can learn more about the Evans Scholars Foundation by visiting the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation website.

Read the full story here.

First Tee Greater Baltimore helping students succeed on and of the course

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — First Tee Greater Baltimore is empowering the city’s youth both on the golf course and in the classroom.

In Baltimore City you’ll find some golfers with the best drive are not even old enough to drive.

“First Tee of Greater Baltimore teaches kids nine core values and nine life skills through the game of golf,” said John Shmerler, Board Chairman for First Tee Greater Baltimore.

Shmerler and others with the program make sure the kids are teed up for success both on the course and in the classroom.

But Baltimore’s chapter is built differently.

“One of a handful that really operates and focuses on underserved kids in an inner city atmosphere,” said Shmerler.

“Access is always hard. Golf has traditionally been and continues to be more of a suburban sport and expensive,” said Shmerler.

But with courses nestled right in the city, a new van, volunteers and a dedicated group of staff and coaches the program is able to give the kids an opportunity to swing and succeed.

“I’ve seen this golf course change, I fell in love with it,” said Varada Maulkhan. “It’s one of my home courses.”

Maulkhan is a 2021 Evans Scholarship winner and plans to attend the University of Maryland in the fall.

She was introduced to the game of gold through First Tee Greater Baltimore.

The organization is changing the lives of young golfers long after they walk off the course.

“When kids stay in our First Tee program for more than three years we have a 100 percent graduation rate from high school, which, from neighborhoods that we’re serving is generally some of the underserved and inner city neighborhoods,” said Shmerler. “That’s much much higher than what they’re averaging now.”

While there are rules to the game of golf, John reminds the kids it’s not as exclusive as one may think.

“It’s a one person team, if you want to do it, you can do it, said Shmerler. “It can be as lonely or as social as you want to make it.”

Read the Full Story here.

Two Baltimore County High Schoolers Compete with Pro Golfers on PGA TOUR

COCKEYSVILLE, Md.

Golf stars at just 16 years old, two Baltimore County teens competed this past month alongside the pros, making their big PGA tour debut.

A shot at the big leagues, St. Paul’s School students Sydnee Gaines and Colin Vineberg nailed it. The two competed in the Pure Insurance Championship, which aired on the Golf Channel in September. It was a stop along the PGA Tour, pairing senior pros with junior golfers.

“I won the whole thing,” Vineberg said.

Vineburg took home the trophy alongside teammate, six-time champion, Rocco Mediate.

“I’ve watched him for the past 10 years now,” Vineberg said. “There was a lot of pressure there, but Rocco helped me. It helped a lot.”

Gaines, who played alongside former-No. 1 pro Tom Lehman, had a bit of a different start.

“I got a call from Arizona and I was wondering, I was just like, ‘I don’t know anyone from Arizona, so I probably shouldn’t pick up.’ So, I declined his call and he ended up meeting me at Spyglass and saying, ‘I was trying to get in contact but you didn’t pick up,'” Gaines said.

Besides going pro, Gaines said she’s also considering medical school with hopes of becoming a neurologist.

Gaines and Vineberg were two of 82 youth picked to play in the competition. The opportunity to play comes from the First Tee Foundation. Both have been a part of it, golfing together for over a decade while volunteering to teach others. Now it’s staying on par with what’s ahead — potentially going pro.

“That’s still an option. I definitely want to play in college,” Vineberg said.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, it was just great being out there,” Gaines said.

Some big goals, they definitely have got the drive.

View Full Story Here.