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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Jon Kropilak, 785-532-5352, jkropilak@thefirstteemanhattan.org

Friday, June 13, 2008

MANHATTAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO TAKE PART IN WAL-MART FIRST TEE OPEN SELECTION EVENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; SECOND SELECTION EVENT AT K-STATE'S COLBERT HILLS

MANHATTAN -- A Manhattan High School student is getting the opportunity to be selected for the Wal-Mart First Tee Open.

Audrey Ballard, 17, a member of The First Tee of Manhattan, will take part in the selection process July 23-27 at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, N.H. Ballard is one of 36 girls from The First Tee learning facilities worldwide who will be competing for the opportunity to play in the fifth annual Wal-Mart First Tee Open, presented by Nature Valley, at Pebble Beach in California. The open, Aug. 27-31, is a nationally televised Champions Tour tournament.

The selection event for boys will be July 14-16 at Kansas State University's Colbert Hills Golf Course. Ninety boys will be competing to advance to the Pebble Beach tournament.

Seventy of the 78 junior golfers, ages 13-18, who will participate in the tournament will be chosen at the Colbert Hills and New Hampshire selection events.

"Audrey will have a great opportunity to represent herself and Manhattan at this event," said Jon Kropilak, executive director of The First Tee of Manhattan. "She has a very good chance of making it to Pebble Beach."

The First Tee selection process recognizes participants who have integrated life skills learned through The First Tee into other aspects of their life. A committee of representatives from The First Tee, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the golf industry will judge the participants based on activities both on and off the golf course. Participants will be judge on proficiency on the golf course; personal interviews; life skills curriculum knowledge; personal essays describing an obstacle they have overcome; involvement and longevity with The First Tee; summary of community involvement, awards, recognitions and extracurricular activities; and decorum.

The Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach will be at the Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course. It will be televised on the Golf Channel. More information is available at http://www.thefirsttee.org and http://www.thefirstteeopen.com

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla., at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.2 million participants and students in 48 states and four international locations: Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Former President George H. Bush serves as honorary chairman.

As founding corporate partner of The First Tee, Shell Oil Company has provided financial resources to support the development of this charitable youth initiative aimed at promoting character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Because of Shell's initial contribution, The First Tee has garnered the support of hundreds of corporations and organizations that have provided.