Corey Conners, Rory McIlroy share lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

As crowds admire the beauty and glory of Pebble Beach Golf Links this week during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, life and reality are a little different 20 miles down the road in Salinas, California. While the two areas are a short drive apart, they might as well be a world away. In Salinas, crime rates are high, gang violence common, and the city holds the highest homicide rate in the state of California. In the midst of the crime and violence there is a safe haven for youth. The First Tee of Monterey County, which is located in the most distressed neighborhood of East Salinas, keeps a high percentage of the city’s vulnerable youth safe by providing supervised, healthy activities that help strengthen their resilience to the gang influence and violence. And youth like 17-year-old Robert Aguayo are finding success in school and at home, and learning golf along the way. “The community I live in is plagued with gang violence,� said Robert, a participant with The First Tee of Monterey County. “I am thankful I have had The First Tee of Monterey County as a safe haven. I have had many friends give in to temptation of the streets, but with the guidance of my family, The First Tee staff, my mentors and following the Core Values, I am on the right path to having a successful future.� Robert first started visiting The First Tee of Monterey County during school with his first grade class. Through a partnership with the Alisal Union School District, The First Tee of Monterey County buses more than 9,000 students to their campus every three weeks to learn golf and The First Tee’s Nine Core Values. Kids like Robert can then take the experience to the next level. Robert quickly became involved with The First Tee’s after school program, and that’s when the doors started opening. Robert began excelling in his golf game, earning him opportunities like playing on his high school’s varsity golf team and being selected for the prestigious Sankaty Head Caddie Camp in Nantucket, Mass. This last September, he was one of 81 juniors from across the country selected for the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship impacting The First Tee, where he played Pebble Beach Golf Links with PGA TOUR Champions player Scott McCarron. “It has been kind of like the domino effect,� said Marilu Aguayo, Robert’s mom. “One opportunity led to another, and so on.� The impact has also extended beyond the golf course. Robert is part of the chapter’s Pay it Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program. Through the program, Robert meets with his mentor, a local university student, five hours every month to help with academics – an area in which he has struggled, but is improving thanks to the program. This spring, Robert will be eligible to earn a $20,000 four-year scholarship to California State University, Monterey Bay through the program. If Robert is selected, he will then become a mentor to a young participant at The First Tee, starting the cycle over again. “The First Tee has changed my life in many ways,� Robert said. “The First Tee has kept me on the right path that will lead me to success. I have had the opportunity to visit one of the most amazing golf courses, Pebble Beach, and have been able to participate as a standard bearer there at many events over the years. I owe a lot to The First Tee and hope to someday be able to give back in appreciation of all they have done for me.� To learn more about The First Tee and its programs offered across the country and select international locations, visit www.thefirsttee.org.

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AUSTIN, Texas — It’s the final day of the Group Stage at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, which means the 16 group winners will be decided Friday and advance to single-elimination competition this weekend. We’ll post recaps and identify the group winners as each of the 32 matches are completed Friday at Austin Country Club, so check back often throughout the day. MATCH PLAY: Scores | Group Standings | Bracket Group 12: Henrik Stenson HENRIK STENSON (37) def. JIM FURYK (52), 5 and 4 In a winner-take-all match, Stenson (3-0-0) dominated Furyk (2-1-0) to win the group. Stenson was a bogey-free 7 under in his 14 holes played and was 4-up after Furyk’s bogey at the seventh. Stenson then produced four consecutive birdies on the back nine to snuff out any hopes of a Furyk rally. Stenson hit 10 of 11 fairways and 13 of 14 greens, and advances to the Round of 16 for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2008 under the old format. Holes won: Stenson 6, Furyk 1. Holes led: Stenson 13, Furyk 0. Said Stenson: “That’s the best round of golf I’ve played all year … It was called the ‘group of death’ and I guess I managed to bring it to the other guys.” PHIL MICKELSON (20) def. JASON DAY (12), 2 up Mickelson (1-2-0) birdied two of the last three holes to beat Day (0-3-0) in a match with no group implications. Holes won: Mickelson 7, Day 5. Holes led: Mickelson 12, Day 2.

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RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Viktor Hovland won the Puerto Rico Open on Sunday for his first PGA TOUR title, chipping in for eagle on the par-5 15th and racing in a 30-footer for birdie on the par-5 18th for a one-stroke victory over Josh Teater. Related: Leaderboard | Winner’s Bag: Viktor Hovland “The only or the first person to play out here was Henry Bjornstad,” Hovland said. “I grew up kind of watching him play or following the scores online. So to kind of follow his footsteps and be able to win kind of the first tournament for Norway is really special. A bunch of my friends and just normal people from back home paying attention, which is a lot more than I could ask for.” Hovland overcame a muddy triple bogey on the par-3 11th with the late surge at windy Coco Beach. The 22-year-old former Oklahoma State star shot a 2-under 70 to finish at 20-under 268. “It feels crazy being here,” Hovland said. “It was certainly a day of lots of ups and downs.” Teater closed with a 69 in the tournament played opposite the World Golf Championships event in Mexico. He rebounded from bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 with birdies on 15 and 17. “Hats off to Viktor, that’s a great putt,” Teater said. “Actually, heard it on the radio that it went in before I saw it on TV. He’s a great player and we’re going to see it more often.” Hovland earned $540,000, a full TOUR exemption through the 2021-22 season and spots in the PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship. “I was just thinking about trying to play as well as I could today and trying to get the job done,” Hovland said. “I hadn’t really thought about the perks yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be nice to get into some of the events that I wasn’t already qualified for.” Hovland shot a 64 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final round. He earned a PGA TOUR card last year in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals after winning the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, then sweeping low amateur honors at The Masters and U.S. Open. Kyle Stanley, Sam Ryder and Emiliano Grillo tied for third at 15 under. Stanley had a 68, and Ryder and Grillo shot 69. Martin Laird, a shot behind Hovland entering the day, closed with a 75 to tie for sixth at 14 under with Matthew NeSmith (67) and Ted Potter Jr. (69). Jhonattan Vegas shot 62 to reach 13 under.

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