Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge Set to Kick Off 2025 Chubb Classic Tournament Week in Naples, Feb. 10-12
NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 29, 2025 – The 18th edition of the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge is set to return to Naples, Feb. 10-12, when 10 First Tee participants representing five First Tee Chapters throughout the country converge upon Southwest Florida to compete in a three-day tournament, taking place in conjunction with the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO.
In partnership with the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge will feature three nine-hole rounds of competition, with an alternate format each day on three of Naples’ premier golf courses. On Monday, Feb. 10, the teams will play in a better-ball – four ball at Tiburón Golf Club (Gold Course); Tuesday will be a scramble format at Wyndemere Golf Club and Wednesday will be a modified alternate shot format at The TwinEagles Club (Talon Course). The chapter that earns the highest number of points throughout all three formats will be named 2025 Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge winners.
The five First Tee Chapters scheduled to be represented are:
First Tee – Massachusetts
First Tee – Metropolitan New York
First Tee – Minnesota
First Tee – Greater Philadelphia
First Tee – Greater Chicago
“As a globally renowned golf destination with over 90 public and private courses, we are excited to once again sponsor the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge in partnership with the Chubb Classic, which is an ideal fit for showcasing Florida’s Paradise Coast,” said Sandra Rios, Public Relations & Communications Manager for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “We are thrilled to welcome the First Tee chapters from across the country as well as the PGA TOUR Champions’ top talent to our community and are proud to be able to support this very worthy initiative.”
In addition to the three rounds of golf, the First Tee participants will also engage in special community service projects, meet PGA TOUR Champions players at a special First Tee Champions Challenge Clinic presented by Porsche Naples, and be treated to multiple evening special events showcasing Southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast.
“We are honored and grateful to once again partner with the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and our supporting partner Porsche Naples in welcoming First Tee participants from throughout the country to our paradise in Southwest Florida and the Chubb Classic,” said Sandy Diamond, executive director of the Chubb Classic. “As the former chief development officer at the First Tee of Metropolitan New York, I understand firsthand how these opportunities and events can help mold and shape young people’s lives on and off the course. This event and experience serve as the perfect kickoff for Chubb Classic tournament week.”
First Tee is a national youth development organization that enables kids to build inner strength, confidence and resilience – qualities that will serve them on the golf course and in life. Its character education programs are offered at golf courses, schools and youth centers in all 50 states and at six international locations.
“We are looking forward to leaving the cold weather behind for a few days and return to beautiful Naples and Florida’s Paradise Coast for the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge,” said Bill Hyndman, chief executive officer of the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. “The experience our First Tee kids have through this event – tournament golf, community service and meeting legends of the game at the Chubb Classic – speaks volumes to the efforts that the Chubb Classic and the Naples, Marco Island and Everglades CVB are putting into giving life lessons and introducing our kids to memories they will take with them forever.”
First Tee Champions Challenge participants include:
Jack Yucatonis First Tee – Massachusetts
Olivia Jatczak First Tee – Massachusetts
Brooke Matthew First Tee – Metropolitan New York
Emily Bui First Tee – Metropolitan New York
William Davies First Tee – Minnesota
Jayla Mao First Tee – Minnesota
Jake Smaron First Tee – Greater Philadelphia
Devin Carpenter First Tee – Greater Philadelphia
Carson Valeroso First Tee – Greater Chicago
Jasmine McGhee First Tee – Greater Chicago
Sophia and Stella Travlos of the First Tee – Metropolitan New York chapter exercised their sisterly bond to win the 2024 edition of the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge by five strokes over three days of competition.
The Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO, Naples’ Flagship PGA TOUR Champions event, will take place Feb. 13-16 at Tiburón Golf Club’s Black Course. A field of 78 players consisting of World Golf Hall-of-Famers, major champions, past champions and legends of the game will compete in the 54-hole championship for a share of the $1.8 million purse.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Chubb Classic, including exclusive packages offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. All 2025 tournament tickets will be completely digital and will be emailed after purchase. They can be viewed on either a mobile device or printed out and scanned at the main gate. Tickets can be purchased at www.ChubbClassic.com/tickets. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales at the Chubb Classic will go directly to the First Tee and the First Tee five participating chapters.
Tiburón Golf Club, managed by Troon, the only facility to host a PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and LPGA Tour event in the same calendar year, features two 18-hole Championship golf courses, The Gold and The Black. The Black Course, which opened in 2001, has a very distinctive look with pine straw-lined fairways, crushed coquina waste areas and undulating greens nestled amidst acres of pine trees and native Florida foliage. The Black Course is designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International to protect and enhance its natural surroundings.
For more information on the Chubb Classic, visit www.ChubbClassic.com, and on social media @ChubbClassic on X (formerly Twitter), @ChubbClassic on Instagram, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChubbClassic.
About Florida’s Paradise Coast
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the official source for travel and tourism information about Florida's Paradise Coast. Located in Southwest Florida, this premier vacation and meeting destination offers leisure, group, and business travelers a variety of exceptional year-round options – the sophistication of Naples, the charm of Marco Island and the authentic, rural beauty of Everglades City. Boasting a 30-mile coastline along the Gulf of Mexico ribboned with soft, white-sand beaches, visitors enjoy a refined yet relaxed atmosphere and a variety of accommodations from luxurious beachfront resorts to upscale boutique hotels and welcoming family-friendly lodging. The destination is renowned for its thriving arts and culture scene, exceptional restaurants, art galleries, designer boutiques and eclectic shopping experiences. A mecca for sports enthusiasts, it is home to over 90 public and private golf courses and is the host destination to three major PGA and LPGA championship tournaments, as well as the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. The Paradise Coast Sports Complex is home to the United Soccer League’s FC Naples team and hosts national and regional sports tournaments year-round. Water activities abound, ranging from world-class fishing and sailing charters to kayaking, paddleboarding and airboat rides. Outdoor adventure activities include exploring the world-famous Everglades – the only sub-tropical mangrove wilderness in the U.S. that features endangered and rare wildlife species in their natural habitat, including the elusive Florida panther, alligators, bobcats, Florida black bear, and over 350 species of birds.
Florida’s Paradise Coast is truly where the high life meets the wildlife. Accolades include being named the No. 1 “Best Place to Live in the U.S.,” the No. 1 “Healthiest and Happiest City in America” and “One of the Best Small Cities in the U.S.” Located just two hours from Miami, three hours from Tampa, and four hours from Orlando, Florida’s Paradise Coast is easily accessible by Interstate highway. Travelers outside of the Sunshine State can fly into Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Punta Gorda (PGD), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA). For more information about Florida’s Paradise Coast, call 800-688-3600, visit ParadiseCoast.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
About The Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO
The Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO has been held in Naples, Fla., since 1988 and features stars from the PGA TOUR Champions competing over 54 holes for a share of $1.8 million in prize money. Past champions include legends of the game such as Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer. The event is owned and operated by Outlyr, a global marketing and event management agency that operates a number of professional golf tournaments, sporting and lifestyle events across the country as well as managing the sponsorship portfolio for several blue-chip clients. Visit www.ChubbClassic.com for more information.
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, on Facebook, on X (@ChampionsTour), on Instagram (@pgatourchampions) and on TikTok (pgatourchampions).
All events are televised in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, PGA TOUR Champions coverage is available in more than 170 countries and territories via 22 media partners.
About Chubb
Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.
About SERVPRO
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation, biohazard, and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 2,200 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners, and major insurance companies rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”
About Tiburón Golf Club
Located in Naples, Florida, Tiburón Golf Club, managed by Troon Golf features two 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf courses, The Gold and The Black. Tiburón also is home to the CME Group Tour Championship and the Grant Thornton Invitational and is consistently rated among the top 20 golf facilities in Florida by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. Tiburón's Gold Course opened in 1998 and the Black Course opened in 2001. Both courses play to a par of 72 and feature five sets of tees. The Gold Course can play as long as 7,382 yards, while The Black Course can play up to 6,949 yards from the championship tees. The 295-room Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, sits adjacent to the two award-winning courses, while the 450-room Ritz-Carlton Naples is just a few miles away. The semi-private club has been designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International. Tiburón's 27,000-square foot Mediterranean-style clubhouse features three dining rooms, private member locker rooms and lounge areas, as well as an award-winning golf shop.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Friedman
Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO
Outlyr
407-721-9752
jfriedman@outlyr.com