by Press Release-
NOTAH BEGAY III FOUNDATION PARTICIPANTS SHANNELLE TAFOYA AND ANTONIO LOUIS LAREZ SELECTED TO ATTEND SECOND ANNUAL RYDER CUP JUNIOR ACADEMY-
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Shannelle Tafoya (Santo Domingo Pueblo) and Antonio Louis Larez (Navajo) of New Mexico, will participate in the 2012 Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy on July 1-8, at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie, Fla. A total of 84 juniors throughout the United States have been selected to participate.
The Ryder Cup Junior Academy is a week-long program that emphasizes a variety of skills, including playing and competing in both stroke- and match-play formats, swing mechanics, competitive course management, as well as fitness and physical assessments.
As part of the 2010 United States Ryder Cup Team’s charitable commitment, the team designated a total of $650,000 to create and support the Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy. The initiative is designed to expand the outreach of the Ryder Cup and provide aspiring young players an opportunity to experience an elite player development academy who may not have the resources or means to attend. It will also offer the juniors expert instruction from past U.S. Ryder Cup Captains and award-winning PGA Professionals.
“We had a tremendously successful first year of the Ryder Cup Junior Academy,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “I was able to see first-hand the impact this had on a special group of junior golfers from across the country. I am sure that this year will have the same positive impression on the future of our great game.”
Shannelle Tafoya and Antonio Louis Larez were nominated to attend the Ryder Cup Junior Academy by the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation through their partnership with The PGA of America. The NB3 Foundation, which promotes sports, health and wellness, and leadership development programs to Native American youth to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, works with The PGA of America to expose the game of golf to more Native American youth and their families. Four-time PGA TOUR winner Notah Begay III who is the only full-blooded Native American to play on the TOUR created the NB3 Foundation in 2005. The NB3 Foundation has served more than 10,000 Native American youth and has provided unprecedented access to sports of golf and soccer as a means to fight obesity and diabetes and promote youth leadership development.
“We are grateful to the PGA of America for providing this important opportunity for the Native American youth chosen to participate in the Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy, stated Notah Begay III, founder of the NB3 Foundation. “Increasing access to golf and investing in player development can truly be a game changer for youth from underrepresented communities – both on and off the course. We see golf as a vehicle to impact the health of Native American youth and the PGA of America has been a tremendous partner in promoting golf for Native American youth and families in partnership with the NB3 Foundation.”
Each of the 41 PGA Sections nationwide were given the opportunity to nominate one boy and one girl each, with the remainder of the juniors selected through an at-large process. Also receiving invitations were boy and girl participants from the Lorena Ochoa Golf Foundation, Bill Dickey Scholarship Association, Pan-American Golf Association, and the AJGA Ace Grant Program.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
