the chevron championship tees off with girls golf clinic

About 100 middle school students from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA) in Houston spent a crisp spring day at the city’s Memorial Park taking lessons on everything from golf swings to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The Chevron-sponsored Whole in One STEM clinic is facilitated in partnership with the Astros Golf Foundation. The clinic aims to educate students on the wellness of the whole person. For the girls from the YWCPA, that included instruction in nutrition, sports mentality, fitness, STEM and basic golf skills. The clinic is held in conjunction with The Chevron Championship of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

“The Whole in One clinic is really designed to be that whole-person experience,” said Amber Tierce, Chevron Houston Corporate Affairs manager. “Ultimately, we hope the students come away inspired through the science of golf and are inspired to pursue careers in STEM.”

During their rotation through five stations, YWCPA students learned putting tips from players and coaches from the University of Houston Women’s Golf team and instructors from the youth development nonprofit First Tee–Greater Houston.

“What we are trying to do is empower girls in a way that might not have been done in the past through the sport of golf,” said Betsy Harris, First Tee Memorial Park program manager. “Part of that involves overcoming challenges and empowering girls to make good decisions. In golf, you can make bad decisions, but then you have to work your way through those.”

Other clinic activities included nutrition lessons from Jimmy Coatsworth, head chef for the Houston Astros, and skills development for persevering through challenges. That session was led by Houston Astros sideline reporter Julia Morales and former LPGA pro Susie Redman.

Trainers from the Chevron Fitness Center chipped in by leading instruction at the physical fitness station. Chevron volunteers guided students through activities at the STEM Zone, which featured activities with a thermal imaging camera, the importance of hydration and how human energy works.

In 2021, Chevron launched a six-year commitment to serve as the title sponsor of The Chevron Championship. This year’s event, the first of five major LPGA tournaments, will be held April 20–23 at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.