Two outstanding student-athletes were awarded $10,000 college scholarships by the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation during a special ceremony in early June, moved up this year to accommodate renovations at Club Walden, the longtime host of the event.
Vinh Lai of Lakewood and Ava Furiga of Avon were honored for their academic success, leadership, character, and involvement in the game of golf. Each recipient will receive $2,500 per year for four years, totaling $10,000, to support their higher education journey.
Lai, a 2025 graduate of St. Edward High School, earned a 4.65 GPA while completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. A four-year varsity golfer and two-year varsity soccer player—captaining both teams—he also actively participated in the NOPGA Junior Tour and First Tee. He was involved in numerous clubs and held leadership positions in the Asian American Pacific Islander Club and the school newspaper. A member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, Vinh will attend The Ohio State University this fall to study Aerospace Engineering.
“Receiving the NOPGA Foundation Scholarship is much more than just a check—it’s a source of inspiration. Inspiration for what I will accomplish as an engineer in college and for those following in my footsteps. This scholarship demonstrates that you don’t necessarily have to be the ‘best’ at something, but rather the most hardworking. NOPGA has given me much more than being able to hit a golf ball—it has given me lifelong relationships, valuable life skills, and steadfast determination. In the years ahead, I hope to inspire others through the same values that NOPGA and the game of golf have given me.”
– Vinh Lai
Furiga, a 2025 graduate of Avon High School, finished with a 4.423 GPA and graduated in the top 5% of her class. A three-year varsity golfer and team captain her senior year, she was active in Ohio Girls Golf Foundation events and works at The Renaissance. Ava held leadership roles in Key Club, SADD Club, and Leo Club, and was recognized as a National Honor Society member, SWC Scholar Athlete, and AP Scholar with Honors. She was also named her school’s Phi Beta Kappa honoree. Ava will attend The Ohio State University this fall to pursue a degree in Biology as she prepares for a career in medicine.
“I am so honored to be receiving the NOPGA Foundation Scholarship. Golf has taught me patience and focus, skills that I will carry with me into my future career in medicine. I’m especially proud of myself for continuing to strive for excellence, even after the loss of my mom. That experience changed me, but it also strengthened my drive to succeed and make her proud. I’m incredibly grateful to the committee for this opportunity and for supporting students like me who are working to turn adversity into purpose.”
– Ava Furiga
This year’s applicant pool included 32 submissions, from which five individuals were selected for interviews. The scholarship committee was so impressed with the finalists that they secured additional funding to award three additional scholarships of $4,000 each, presented in $1,000 increments over four years. Congratulations to:
Will Misconish – attending The Ohio State University
Francesca Hatheway – attending Capital University
Gracyn Vidovic – attending Ashland University
The NOPGA Foundation has now awarded nearly $130,000 in scholarships over the last five years, helping junior golfers succeed on and off the course through continued investment in education.
We proudly awarded $32,000 in scholarships, including $10,000 each to Vinh Lai (Lakewood) and Ava Furiga (Avon)
Congratulations to DJ Holub, Vic Davis, Mike Davis, Matt Davis, and Will Misconish — winners of today’s event after a scorecard playoff with an impressive 15-under! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/et04gehXiB
— Northern Ohio PGA (@NOhioPGA) June 2, 2025
