By Amy Rogers
Norah Zellen has spent the better part of her childhood as a member of the First Tee of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Currently a student at Turpin High School, Zellen has learned through her 10 years participating in the program the fundamentals of a golf swing along with life skills that gave her the confidence to establish a fundraiser in her local community.
But there was nothing in Zellen’s young career that could ever perhaps prepare her for the moment she encountered on Tuesday evening when she stepped on to the tee at the par three, 7th hole at TPC River’s Bend with multiple major champions watching and took a swing at winning $250,000.
“Nervous!” Zellen said when asked about how she was feeling to be the first of 10 local high school golfers to take a shot at the quarter of a million dollar prize in front of LPGA Tour professionals. “They also golf and they’ve chunked golf balls before, so it’s okay!”
Zellen’s tee ball was far from chunky as it safely avoided the water that runs down the left hand side of the 150 yard hole and comfortably landed on the putting surface, which drew cheers and applause from the crowd looking on.
Zellen’s shot was one of 25 that was hit during The Tide and Downy Perfect Shot Challenge, which was the highlight of the Pro-Am Pairings Party that was held as part of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
Pro-am participants packed the Olay Body Public Viewing Deck behind the tee where they enjoyed drinks and desserts while eagerly waiting to see if one of the high school students or the 15 LPGA Tour professionals, who were participating in the challenge, would make a hole-in-one to take home a $250,000 prize. If an LPGA Tour professional made the ace, they’d pocket the cash. Should a high school student win the prize, the earnings would be split between their local First Tee chapter and their high school.
Maria Fassi and Gigi Stoll served as self-described “amateur” emcees for the evening’s festivities in which they teased their fellow golf professionals while also urging the DJ on the back of the tee box to keep the tunes flowing and ever-changing to keep the participants on their toes.
Lexi Thompson was the most decorated player to participate in the challenge on Tuesday evening. A fixture amongst fans and pro-am parties throughout her career, the semi-retired major champion has become an icon to the next generation of female golfers and the young women, who were hitting alongside her, were nearly speechless to see the 11-time winner in person.
“Who are we looking at?” Bella Joy Mitchell asked her First Tee friends as the Olentangy Orange High School golfer was stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Thompson walk on to the tee box.
Thompson fell victim to the DJ’s ever-changing playlist which forced her to back off more than once as she laughed off the hijinks Fassi and Stoll were encouraging and Thompson’s tee ball ultimately landed well short of the putting surface.
AIG Women’s Open champion Sophia Popov thrilled the fans with a near ace that finished seven inches from the cup.
“And there’s a reason she’s a major champion!” the emcees quipped as Popov bowed to her fellow competitors.
Lauren Hartlage was the next to play and hit an 8-iron which nearly threatened Popov’s cozy position on the green.
“Pretty good for second place,” Stoll teased.
Popov took home the $5,000 prize for finishing closest to the pin and while her two-year old daughter, Maya, ran around the tee box the major champion accepted her earnings in the form of an oversized check to the tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider” which had the onlookers chuckling.
Maggie Meyer of Madeira High School hit a 7-wood to the par three to earn the closest to the pin prize in the high school division and was awarded a $5,000 check for her school. Meyer only took up playing golf three years ago and couldn’t wipe the grin from her face as she accepted congratulations from her fellow competitors and posed for photos with Popov while Queen’s “We are the Champions” boomed from the nearby speakers.
As the Tide and Downy Perfect Shot Challenge came to a close, Fassi and Stoll posed alongside all the participants who gathered for a group photo on the tee box. It will become a lasting memory of an unforgettable evening for the juniors, who couldn’t have been completely prepared for the night they just experienced, but it certainly was one they’ll never forget.
“The bar is still open and the party is still going,” Stoll said as the crowd made their way back inside the clubhouse for the Pro-Am Pairings Party’s ongoing festivities. “Thanks for joining us.”
