First Tee – Greater Akron Program Director Michael Clark has been named a nominee for the 2022 LPGA*USGA Sandy LaBauve Spirit Award.
Clark is one of 81 nominees across the country to be nominated by their Girls Golf parents and peers for this prestigious award. There are currently over 500 LPGA*USGA Girls Golf sites in the United States. Nominees plan, organize and implement Girls Golf clinics, tournaments, field trips, social activities, and more, sharing their passion by providing girls with quality and memorable experiences that not only affect their lives but also help to shape their futures daily.
Named after the founder of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the Sandy LaBauve Award honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to inspire the lives of juniors through their passion and dedication to empowering girls through golf. LaBauve was an LPGA Teaching Professional in Phoenix, Arizona, and the mother of two daughters when she founded Girls Golf in 1989. Thanks to the vision of Sandy LaBauve, more than 500,000 girls have been introduced to the game of golf since the Girls Golf program’s inception.
“I am honored to teach our LPGA*USGA Girls Golf participants and am truly humbled by this nomination,” said Michael Clark, Program Director of First Tee – Greater Akron. “As a father of two young daughters, I believe that all young girls should be urged to try new things and feel comfortable in doing so. Our LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program provides a fun and friendly environment where our female participants can not only learn about the game of golf, but even more about themselves and the unlimited potential they possess.”
Michael Clark joined First Tee – Greater Akron in June of 2019 when he was hired as Outreach Director. Clark was then promoted to Program Director in October 2021 and oversees all the organization’s programming as well as coaches and volunteers.
“Michael’s passion and love for golf and teaching kids is infectious,” said Jeff O’Brien, Executive Director of First Tee – Greater Akron. “Our chapter’s future is very bright with Michael leading our programming. This nomination is very deserving for Michael.”
About First Tee — Greater Akron
First Tee — Greater Akron 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, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. First Tee — Greater Akron reaches kids and teens through programs delivered at 4 program locations, 60 schools and the Akron community centers. In 2021, First Tee – Greater Akron directly impacted 11,029 kids in the community. Learn more at www.firstteeakron.org.
