MN PGA Announces Junior Golfer Scholarships

Minnesota

COON RAPIDS, Minn. (April 25, 2018) — The Minnesota PGA announces eight individuals have been awarded with a 2018 Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Scholarship through its charitable arm, PGA REACH Minnesota. The Minnesota PGA has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships since 1996.

"The Minnesota PGA is pleased to award scholarships to these eight dynamic individuals," said Jeffrey Hintz, Minnesota PGA ceo. "The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Scholarship Program is an avenue for us to invest and support the future players of our game. All recipients are very worthy and have bright futures. We are happy to assist them in achieving their goals."

The PGA REACH Minnesota Scholarship, formerly known as the Minnesota Section PGA Junior Golf Scholarship, was established in 1996. The purpose of the PGA Reach Minnesota Scholarship is to encourage and promote the attainment of higher educational goals for junior golfers who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and extra-curricular activities during his/her high school career. PGA Reach Minnesota awards these scholarships based on the following criterion: high school grades, class rank, ACT/SAT scores, extracurricular activities, and a one-page essay.

This year’s PGA REACH Minnesota Scholarship recipients are Hannah Breiland of Northfield, Wyatt Ebner of Inver Grove Heights, Tristan Nelko of Plymouth and Sydney Regalado of Rosemount. Each recipient will receive a four-year $4,000 scholarship.

Breiland collected three varsity letters in tennis, alpine skiing and golf at Northfield High School. She was a former captain of the tennis team and named a captain of both the alpine skiing and golf teams in 2018. Her contributions outside of athletics include peer mentoring and being a member of the National Honor Society and Women in Northfield Giving Support (WINGS) Board. She will be attending the University of Northern Iowa to pursue a degree in athletic training and to continue her golf career.

Ebner, a senior at Rosemount High School, tallied five varsity letters in golf and three more in hockey. He is a member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) where he held multiple leadership roles including Command Chief Master Sergeant. Also, Wyatt is currently a member of the National Honor Society and Rosemount Area Hockey Association as well as being a singer in his school’s choir. In June, he will start school at United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., studying naval and marine architecture engineering.


Nelko will graduate from Wayzata High School this year having earned four varsity letters in golf, serving as a captain for at least one season, and two more in hockey. He is heavily involved in his community through volunteer efforts with Y.E.S. Volunteer Club, Wayzata Hockey Association and Golf Fore Good. He also works as a caddie and in the bag room at Windsong Farm Golf Club. Tristan will study business and sports marketing and play college golf at the University of Nebraska.

Regalado, also at Rosemount High School, is a captain of the golf team and former captain of the cross country team. She collected four varsity letters in golf and six more in cross country. Sydney was a three-time state qualifier during her high school career. Also, she is a member of the school’s band and multiple local clubs including Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Youth Teaching Youth and Rosemount Youth Commission. Sydney will be pursuing a biochemistry and molecular biology degree while playing golf at Gustavus Adolphus College in the fall.

In 2011, the Valspar Corporation became a partner with PGA Reach Minnesota to form the Valspar Minnesota PGA Scholarship. Since its inception, over $264,000 in scholarships have been granted. The Minnesota PGA awards this scholarship on the criterion of high school grades, class rank, ACT/SAT scores, extracurricular activities and involvement, financial need as well as a one-page essay.

The 2018 Valspar Minnesota PGA Scholarship recipients are Alexis Bell of Wahpeton, N.D., Isaac Burgess of Starbuck, James Fischer of Northfield and Allison Tiedemann of Euclid. Each of these juniors will be recipients of a four-year $8,000 scholarship.

Bell is a two-sport varsity captain in golf and softball at Wahpeton Senior High School in N.D. She boasts four varsity letters in softball and six letters in golf including two as a captain in each sport. In addition to playing, she helps coach softball and basketball at the youth levels. Alexis is a member of the student council, choir and ladies auxiliary. She will play golf and study business at Winona State University.

Burgess has earned five varsity letters as a member and captain of the Minnewaska Area High School golf team. In his junior season, he was the Section 3AA Champion and a state qualifier. Isaac earned three more letters on the high school’s basketball team. At the local course, Minnewaska Golf Club, he is a volunteer instructor and clubhouse assistant. Isaac also works as a nursing assistant at Glenwood Retirement Village. He aims to play golf and continue his nursing interests and studies at St. John’s University in Collegeville.

Fischer, the second recipient from Northfield, is an extremely versatile and decorated athlete. He received seven varsity letters in golf, five in trap shooting, four in hockey and two more in bowling. James was, at one point, a captain of the golf and hockey teams at Northfield High School. He also was a member of the National Honors Society in 2017. Next fall, James will seek to acquire a degree in business at Arizona State University.

Tiedemann is a three-time and four-time captain in golf and tennis, respectively, at Crookston High School. She is a member of the band, student council, National Honor Society, Leo and Captain's clubs. She is a member of the local St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Allison has been recognized by her peers with multiple all-state and all-conference awards in golf and tennis. She will attend the University of Minnesota Duluth to attain a pharmacy degree.

For more information on the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Scholarships, visit www.MinnesotaJuniorGolf.com/scholarships.

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