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The First Tee Ladies Junior-Am Sponsored by Fidelity Bank Raises Nearly $ 25K for Local Youth Participants

The First Tee of Greater New Orleans hosted its inaugural Ladies Junior-Am golf tournament this past Monday , November 20th , to raise funds for its youth development programs that target female youth and teen participants . The event was sponsored by Fidelity Bank , which recently introduced its P . O . W . E . R ( Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized ) business development and networking program that provides opportunities throughout the year that are designed to bring women in business together to connect and engage with one another .
The event was hosted at Joseph Bartholomew Municipal Golf Course at Pontchartrain Park in Gentilly and included volunteers from City of New Orleans - Parks and Parkways , Entergy New Orleans and The Friends of Joe Bartholomew . The event , which featured an 18-hole scramble with female golfers paired with a First Tee youth or teen female participant , sold out its 20-team field and awarded team prizes for 1st place ( Jessica Dietz , Ann Gesvantner , Jenny Lee and Julia Simon ), 2nd place ( Connie Bousquet , Betsy Miller and Mary Vitter ), and 3rd place ( Ellen Heidenreich , Judy Nichols , Bonnie Arton , and Grace Jin ).
The Junior-Am included a Closest to the Pin competition sponsored by Capital One and Oscar ’ s Jewelers that was won by Brook Hogan , a Par-3 Challenge sponsored by Dixon Golf , Breakfast sponsored by UnitedHealthcare , and Practice Facilities sponsored by Malin Construction Company . The event featured breakfast provided by Canal Street Bistro and lunch provided by Ms . Linda Green the Ya-Ka-
Mein Lady and Lenora ’ s Grill . Beverages were provided by Coca-Cola Bottling Co . United , Southern Eagle , Second Vine Wine and Effervescence . On course photography for the event was provided by New Orleans Snapshots . The event also featured a raffle with several hotel stays , restaurant gift cards and other prizes and post-golf shopping with local artists and vendors .
“ We greatly appreciate Fidelity Bank ’ s support for this inaugural event . We realized through our planning process that there aren ’ t a lot of opportunities for female golfers to engage with one another or compete in tournaments , so this was a fun event to bring together the local female golf community and raise funds to help engage new female students to participate in First Tee program throughout the year ,” The First Tee Executive Director , Chip Patterson , said .
The First Tee of Greater New Orleans currently impacts nearly 30,000 young people in the community through its life skills , character education and healthy habits programs provided at local golf facilities and elementary schools . Participants in The First Tee program are introduced to the lifelong sport of golf , while learning skills such as goalsetting , managing emotions and resolving conflicts . The program emphasizes The First Tee Nine Core Values ( confidence , responsibility , respect , honesty , judgment , perseverance , sportsmanship , integrity and courtesy ) at every level of instruction .
For more information about The First Tee of Greater New Orleans ’ winter classes for students ages 5-18 , call 504-304-3309 or visit www . thefirstteenola . org .
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