The Arkansas State Golf Association and the First Tee of Central Arkansas are pleased to announce the award winners of the recently established Arnold Palmer Scholarship. The recipients and their colleges of choice are:

• Kaylin Pendleton, Little Rock Central High School, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Luke Fletcher, Mountain View High School, University of Arkansas
• Madeline Wilson, Fayetteville Virtual Academy, Harding University
• Jacob Knowlton, Cabot High School, Henderson State University.

Following the very successful 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup matches held at The Alotian Club in Roland, AR, the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, together with four members of The Alotian Club, established a scholarship program for recipients to be selected by the Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) and the First Tee of Central Arkansas.  

Monica Blake, Executive Director of The First Tee and a member of the ASGA Board of Directors, stated “First Tee-Central Arkansas is so grateful to be able to offer this opportunity in partnership with the ASGA.  The recipients of the Arnold Palmer Scholarship have shown to exhibit some of the same principles that Mr. Palmer himself held is such high regard.  We are incredibly appreciative of the vision and support from both the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation and members at The Alotian Club.”  

Representatives of the ASGA and First Tee of Central Arkansas completed the process of reviewing all the applications and conducting interviews to award the scholarships on the basis of character, leadership qualities, scholastic achievement, golf activities, and other criteria. Two males and two females will be awarded a one-year Arnold Palmer Scholarship of $5,000 each over a 10-year period. The recipients must be accepted into an accredited college or university in Arkansas.

The Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 association with over 10,000 individual members and 126 member clubs. Through the ASGA programs, the association has had the ability to touch the lives of many golfers of all ages and skill levels in the state of Arkansas. In addition to the Arnold Palmer Scholarship, the ASGA scholarship program alone has provided over $500,000 in scholarship dollars to young men and women since its inception.

Through The First Tee of Central Arkansas, children aged 5 to 17 are provided with year-round access to a state-of-the-art facility and Life Skills Experience. The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience provides age-appropriate programming that introduces Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits. The Nine Core Values include honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, courtesy, sportsmanship, confidence, judgment, and perseverance. These values are essential for young people to make positive choices and overcome challenges across all areas of their lives. Additionally, concepts around healthy choices (Nine Healthy Habits) reinforce the importance of physical, social, and emotional wellness.

The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation champions the Palmer family's philanthropic legacy through grantmaking and initiatives, supporting efforts on behalf of youth character development, children’s health, and a commitment to nature and its ability to enrich and heal us.

The Arnold Palmer Cup is a co-ed, Ryder Cup-style tournament that pits the top university/college golfers from the United States against a team of internationals. Played on some of the world’s greatest courses since its 1997 debut, the tournament is supported by the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation and its partners, Rolex and Nike, in the Foundation’s commitment to youth character development and to the growth of amateur/collegiate golf.