First Tee of Contra Costa teen golfer Emily Knox in PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship this week

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Sept. 23, 2022) — Emily Knox is representing First Tee – Contra Costa this week in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. In its 19th year, the event brings 78 teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament.

The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel.

Knox is a long-time member of First Tee – Contra Costa. The 17-year-old is a senior at Liberty High School in Brentwood taking college prep classes as well as academic courses in the school’s Health Academy. She is aiming to pursue a career in nursing.

She has been on the ladies’ varsity golf team all four years of high school and is also on the varsity sideline cheerleading team. Her school activities include leadership (helping incoming freshmen acclimate to their new environment), choir and theater. This year she is part of the prestigious Chamber Singers.

Follow Emily at the Tournament

‘A big part of my life’

Knox says, “Golf has been a big part of my life ever since I was little. I have been playing golf for 12 years and have been competing in golf tournaments for nine of those years.” She is a member of the JGANC, Hurricane, JTNC and AJGA Junior tournament tours. She has earned the opportunity to play in the California Women’s Amateur Championship series, the last two years competing against college players and senior women.

“Through golf I have had the privilege to work with great coaches and leaders that have not only helped me elevate my game to the level I am at today but also helped shape me into the person I have become,” Knox added.

She has been Liberty’s varsity team MVP, Bay Valley Athletic League MVP and first team All-BVAL. She is currently a one index. Knox was low scorer for the Lions as a freshman and junior at the North Coast Section Division I championships. There were no championships in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Knox has applied to take part in the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach since she was a freshman. She was accepted her sophomore year, but because of Covid the tournament did not allow First Tee Junior players to participate. Now that she is able to take part in the tournament, she says, “I am so thankful for this opportunity and have worked my whole life for this moment!”

Building character

First Tee – Contra Costa is one of over 150 chapters across the U.S. and select international locations. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First Tee reaches kids and teens through programs delivered at golf facilities, schools, and youth centers.

First Tee Contra Costa executive director Jamie Maddox invites interested people to visit the non-profit group’s website for more information.

Throughout this week, the teens apply their character strengths and life skills learned from First Tee programs during the one-of-a-kind event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. Know is competing for the Pro-Junior Team title.

“Congratulations to Emily, who has been selected to play and represent First Tee on a national stage,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Her hard work and commitment to academic and personal growth through our program has secured this opportunity. Thank you to our partners − PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel − for their commitment to young people and helping us provide this opportunity to these deserving teens.”

Big names

This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players features World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh, as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links this Sunday, where 23 First Tee juniors will compete based on their 36-hole performance. The tournament will crown one male and one female First Tee Junior Champion on Sunday.

More than 1,000 teens from First Tee have played in the PURE Insurance Championship, experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs in the field.

“Supporting these incredible young men and women along with the great work of First Tee through this sponsorship is tremendously rewarding for our entire team,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer at PURE Insurance. “I know firsthand the impact and value that participating in youth sports can have on one’s development, personally and professionally, so I am particularly proud to be part of an organization that lends support to such a worthy cause.”

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

The junior field for 2022 PURE Insurance Championship can be viewed here.