Despite career highlights like meeting Jack Nicklaus and playing at Pebble Beach, Kristina Ma, long-time First Tee – Central Ohio participant, says that the character lessons she’s learned at FTCO have impacted her most.
Kristina began her journey with FTCO over 12 years ago, as a five year old attending Game Changers Summer Camp. After her positive experience at the camp, Kristina asked her parents to sign her up for more classes. She fondly remembers feeling excited about coming to class every week because, in addition to learning key golf skills, she also got to spend time with new friends.
While progressing through the FTCO classes and learning new skills, she faced setbacks. She recalls attempting some of FTCO’s class levels multiple times because she wasn’t ready to advance. But those setbacks taught her perseverance. She learned that she couldn’t give up even when the situation is difficult, and instead of feeling discouraged, she learned to appreciate the process.
Throughout the years, Kristina remained dedicated to golf, joining her school’s team and participating with FTCO. The mental challenge she encountered when she started playing competitively in tournaments provided the perfect opportunity to practice the perseverance she had learned in her early years with FTCO. “A challenge is a good thing” Kristina says. “It’s super valuable to learn how to push through [a road block]. Because you never know what’s going to be on the other side.”
During her sophomore year, Kristina hoped her hard work would pay off when she applied to compete in the prestigious PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus surprised her at an FTCO event by announcing she had earned a spot in the Championship, which Kristina remembers as a monumental moment in her life.
Kristina considers playing in the PURE Insurance Championship her greatest accomplishment, having worked relentlessly to earn the opportunity. At Pebble Beach, she played with golf pro Ken Duke and secured third place out of 81 players, only realizing her achievement after finishing. ”I was just staying present in the moment and soaking up views, so I wasn’t necessarily focused with the leaderboard,” says Kristina, “I was extremely proud of myself and how I played and so grateful I got to represent FTCO at Pure Insurance.”
Recently, Kristina continued her exceptional FTCO experience by attending The First Tee National Championship at Clemson University. Competing in the tournament was a full-circle moment for Kristina because her brother, Stephen, attended the first-ever First Tee National Championship at Clemson three years ago.
Entering the tournament with a no-pressure mindset, Kristina was most looking forward to embracing the experience and meeting other First Tee participants from across the country. Networking with her fellow golfers, who had experienced similar First Tee programs, was her favorite part of the tournament, and she created lasting friendships.
In addition to golf, the tournament included a variety of events designed to encourage participants to network and experience a taste of the college experience. Kristina attended a welcome dinner at the Clemson University football field and was thrilled to see her name, along with all her fellow participants, on the scoreboard. Kristina also heard from First Tee alumnus and golf pro Gavin Plugs and attended a panel of golf professionals to round out her experience.
Now entering her senior year of high school, Kristina plans to continue her involvement with FTCO due to the significant impact the organization has made on her life. “Learning the core values and being taught something new every single week – like integrity and perseverance and how that can translate into your everyday life, not just golf – was really important to me,” Kristina explained.
Kristina’s FTCO coaches – many of whom she’s known since she was a child – are another reason she’s stayed with FTCO through the years. “I grew up with them and they got to see me grow – not only in my golf game, but as a person,” said Kristina, “Seeing them each week and knowing they’re a constant in my life is really important to me.”
Now also a FTCO volunteer, Kristina finds it rewarding to play a leadership role at FTCO and Girls Golf through coaching. “It’s a full-circle moment for me because I used to be these kids,” explains Kristina. “When I was in this program, the coaches made an impact on me, and I get to be that for somebody else.”
Kristina’s journey with FTCO shows the importance of FTCO’s mission to build character in kids through the game of golf. While the special experiences Kristina has had along the way are amazing, it’s the lessons of integrity, perseverance and leadership that have helped shape her into the person she is today. Her story is about more than just winning; it’s about how a supportive community and strong values can make a big difference in a young person’s life.