The TOUR Championship announced its 2022 HOPE Tee Shot honorees, with First Tee – Metro Atlanta participants Haven Ward and Ethan Quitman selected to each hit the opening tee shots on Thursday morning of the TOUR Championship, just moments before the PGA TOUR’s 30 best players begin the first round of competition.
The TOUR Championship serves as the culminating event of the FedExCup Playoffs and PGA TOUR season, where only the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings will advance to East Lake Golf Club, August 24-28, for a chance to win the PGA TOUR’s Ultimate Prize – the FedExCup.
Ward, 17, and Quitman, 16, will be honored during the HOPE Tee Shot Ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 11:15 a.m. on the first tee at East Lake Golf Club. Since 2008, the TOUR Championship has recognized members of First Tee – Metro Atlanta who exemplify the “HOPE” that continues to build in the East Lake community and throughout Atlanta. Each year, both honorees emerge from an intense selection process comprised of a golf competition, essay contest and interviews with tournament leadership.
In March, the TOUR Championship announced added meaning to the HOPE Tee Shot tradition with the creation of the HOPE Tee Shot Scholarship, with $5,000 awarded to each honoree on behalf of the tournament.
“The HOPE Tee Shot has become a cherished tradition of the TOUR Championship and one of the most exciting and emotional moments of tournament week,” said Alex Urban, Executive Director of the TOUR Championship. “While their moment on the first tee at East Lake is one they will never forget, we wanted to ensure our support stretched beyond that one swing, so we’re excited to begin awarding the HOPE Tee Shot Scholarship as part of what is a tremendous honor.”
Haven Ward
Ward, a rising senior at Holy Innocents Episcopal School, has been a member of First Tee – Metro Atlanta for 11 years, and was given the honor of competing in the PGA TOUR Champions’ Pure Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach last fall. Ward has exhibited an ability to balance her golfing aspirations with her schoolwork, having maintained a 3.8 GPA during what was a busy year of school.
She looks up to Rory McIlroy and Cameron Champ on the PGA TOUR and employs a unique ritual before each of her tournaments: dining at Waffle House.
Ethan Quitman
Quitman, a rising junior at Southwest Dekalb High School, is relatively new to golf, having picked up the game at 13 years old and joining First Tee in 2020. While admittedly being at a disadvantage compared to his peers who began playing earlier, Quitman uses that as motivation to work harder to hone his skills and stay competitive.
Outside of golf, Quitman is self-taught on the piano and participates in martial arts. On TOUR, five-time winner Collin Morikawa is his favorite player.
“It is an exciting day to have Haven and Ethan recognized and rewarded for their commitment to First Tee with the incredible honor of hitting the HOPE Tee Shot at the TOUR Championship,” said Marvin Hightower, Executive Director of First Tee – Metro Atlanta. “These are two impressive individuals who embody the strength of character we at First Tee want our participants to adopt and pursue. They are Game Changers who set the correct example for younger participants who look to follow in their footsteps by becoming successful in golf and in life.”
For more information about the TOUR Championship, please visit TOURChampionship.com. Fans are encouraged to follow the TOUR Championship on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for tournament updates.
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About the TOUR Championship
The top 30 players in FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship qualify for the 2022 TOUR Championship, the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs, and will be awarded starting strokes for round one based on their position. The player with the lowest stroke total including starting strokes in the TOUR Championship after 72 holes of competition will be named winner of the FedExCup and will be awarded an official PGA TOUR victory. The TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta’s renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. The 2022 tournament will be played Aug. 24-28. The tournament has raised more than $42 million in charitable funds since 1998 and proudly supports the East Lake Foundation; Focused Community Strategies; the Grove Park Foundation; Purpose Built Schools Atlanta; and First Tee – Metro Atlanta. Accenture, The Coca-Cola Company and Southern Company are the exclusive Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.
About First Tee — Metro Atlanta
First Tee — Metro Atlanta is one of 150 First Tee chapters across the U.S. and select international locations. First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee — Metro Atlanta creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. First Tee — Metro Atlanta reaches kids and teens through programs currently delivered at six golf course facility program locations, and via partnerships encompassing 248 elementary schools and 35 youth centers. Learn more at www.firstteeatlanta.org.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services and Accenture Song — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 710,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Forbes and the Women’s Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
