Agostini On Golf: Turlock teen's art finds the fairway

The painting depicts Pebble Beach's famed seventh green from above, a so-called aerial view of one of golf's most spectacular sites.

It was drawn by Turlock's Esther Rojas, 14, and if you buy a ticket to the upcoming Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, you will admire her work up close and personal.

Rojas, a freshman at Turlock Christian and a member of The First Tee of Modesto, won the ticket-design art competition for the tournament. Hundreds of First Tee youth from the western United States submitted entries, but only one — Esther's — was selected to decorate the tickets.

"It (No. 7) is one of my favorite holes.

I like the ocean, the scenery and the surrounding mountains," said Rojas, who's never played Pebble Beach. "It's one of the greatest holes I could draw and capture everything about Monterey."

Better still, Esther and older sister Kathleen will compete in The First Tee Open, where First Tee juniors are paired with the best of the Champions Tour. The event, to be contested at Pebble Beach and Del Monte on Sept. 4-6, shines as a unique marriage of professional golf with one of golf's most acclaimed outreach programs.

The Rojas sisters will continue a nice local tradition at the First Tee Open. Modestans have taken part in four of the five tournaments — Julianna Uhrik, Marina Martinez, Katie Canadas and, last year, Fredrik Palmer.

Junior qualifying, solely a golf vehicle five years ago, now entails all aspects of the First Tee curriculum. Only 40 percent of the process comes from a 36-hole tournament. The rest is decided by interviews, testing and essay writing based on the core values and life lessons taught by the First Tee.

The Rojases joined 40 girls between 14 and 18 recently in Rye, N.H., for the three-day qualifying process. Only 20, including the Turlock sisters, punched their tickets to Pebble Beach.

"I met a lot of very nice girls there," Esther said. "It was a great experience."

The First Tee has served the Rojases well. Members the last five years, they've taken full advantage of the comprehensive golf program. Kathleen, a junior at Turlock Christian, annexed a $2,000 scholarship through the First Tee's affiliation with the Royal Bank of Scotland's Achievers program. The scholarship featured a special perk — a trip to New York last month for the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black and, by the way, a dinner with Jack Nicklaus.

"We talked about normal things. He's very down to earth and not as big a man as I thought," Kathleen said. "I asked some questions about putting and he gave me some pointers about reading the greens. He also told me what to look for about the layout of a golf course and how he applies that to his round."

And how was Bethpage Black, Kathleen?

"Rowdy and muddy. Ridiculously muddy."

THE SHAG BAG — USC-bound Sam Smith of Turlock appeared to be in trouble during Monday's 36-hole qualifying for the U.S. Amateur. One-over after 27 holes, Smith strung together birdies, then holed a downhill 20-footer for birdie at the finishing hole for an incoming 31. Just like that, the Turlock High graduate turned anxiety into rounds of 72-66 at Contra Costa CC for medalist honors and a second straight trip to the Amateur. Smith will prepare to sweat at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., the steamy venue for the Amateur on Aug. 24-30. Last year at Pinehurst, he tied for 30th in stroke play but lost in the first round. Smith travels to Tucson, Ariz., for the Pacific Coast Amateur next week. ...