Xavier College Prep Golfer Claims Pro-Junior Title, Wins $50k For The First Tee
Ashley Menne, a senior at Xavier College Preparatory, claimed the female Pro-Junior title at the Pure Insurance Championship, an official PGA TOUR Champions event in Pebble Beach, Calif. Paired with champion golfer, Tom Lehman, the duo won the event with a score of 18-under. The event was broadcast live on The Golf Channel on September 29.
The First Tee is a national youth development program that helps young people build character using the game of golf as a platform. It wasn’t only great golf that got Menne accepted into the program. She had to compete in an extensive application process that included writing essays and interviews.
Before heading out to Pebble Beach, Menne talked about her preparation and focus to keep a 4.0-grade average along with her golf mastery:
“I have to say “no” a lot. I’m constantly on the run — either with my schoolwork, golf practice at Xavier, JGAA & AJGA Golf events. But, I take things one day at a time — and one event at a time – otherwise I’d get overwhelmed. As a kid, I played multiple sports, but once I got into golf, I set my goal to be best.”
At the Pure Insurance Championship, Menne’s team finished 1st in the Chevron Shoot-Out for STEM Scholars and won $50,000 towards The First Tee scholarship fund. In addition, Menne chipped closest to the pin.
A 17-year-old senior, Menne, plays on Xavier’s 36-time State Championship golf team. She has won the AIA High School Individual State Title the past 3 years. Menne also holds a 1.2 handicap and was awarded a full scholarship to play on the women’s golf team at Arizona State University next fall.
