Wilmington High Schooler to Compete at Iconic Pebble Beach Golf Tournament

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wilmington high school student is gearing up to play at one of golf’s most iconic venues this weekend. Isaak Tschekunow, a junior at Hoggard High School, will compete in the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

This prestigious PGA Tour Champions event pairs 80 junior golfers with professional players, giving participants like Isaak a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and learn from golf legends. He will be paired with Retief Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open winner and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“This is just an experience of a lifetime,” Isaak said. “Being able to play at a high level, at a course like this, Pebble, it’s awesome. It really is. Nothing compares to it.”

Pebble Beach, located along the California coast, has hosted numerous major tournaments, including six U.S. Opens, solidifying its status as one of the most recognized golf courses in the United States.

The tournament features junior golfers aged 15 to 18, hailing from nearly 50 First Tee chapters nationwide, including one based in Wilmington. First Tee focuses on integrating golf with life skills, aiming to develop not just athletic skills but also personal growth.

Three years ago, Isaak immigrated to Wilmington from Egypt and quickly became involved with First Tee Greater Wilmington. He credited the organization for helping him make it to this weekend’s tournament. “There’s a lot of people who have really supported me through this journey,” he said. “I’m the only kid from Wilmington out here, and I definitely wanna show people that Wilmington has some good golfers.”

The event kicks off Friday and will see the field narrowed on Saturday night, with only 12 boys advancing to the final round on Sunday. One male and one female champion will be crowned at the close of the tournament.

“There’s definitely some nerves,” Isaak said about competing in the spotlight. “I wanna make that cut. It’s gonna be on TV, so never really had that happen before. I know I’ve got some people at home watching, and that’ll be pretty cool.”