Lisa Copeland
Naperville
,
IL
Age: 12 - 13
Gender: Girls
Region: Upper Midwest
The Path to the National Finals
Qualifying Path
Should a player advance through local qualifying, the subregional and regional qualifying sites are pre-determined based upon the local qualifying site. The player is not guaranteed participation in the subregional qualifier unless he/she advances through local qualifying. The player is not guaranteed participation in the regional qualifier unless he/she advances through local and subregional qualifying.
PLAYER'S HOMETOWN:
Naperville, IL
PLAYER BIRTHPLACE:
La Grange, IL
PLAYER RESIDENCE ON DAY OF NATIONAL FINALS:
Ormond Beach, FL
NAME AND LOCATION OF SCHOOL:
Laurel Springs Academy (Online)
GRADE IN SCHOOL:
8th
HOME GOLF COURSE AND LOCATION:
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (home of Dubsdread), Lemont, IL
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
5
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
67 on 18 holes
HANDICAP INDEX:
+2.9
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
My dad got me started hitting plastic clubs around the house.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My dad
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My local friends. For big tournaments, I'm often paired with friends I've competed with since US Kids Golf at age 6.
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Kevin Weeks at Cog Hill
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
It is an individual sport, so you make the decisions when playing a round.
WHAT PART OF GOLF DO YOU LIKE TO PRACTICE THE MOST?
I like to practice chipping on all sorts of lies, making games out of each tube of balls I hit.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Not one shot is the same, there are so many variables.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLUB?
Whatever club the shot calls for.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Elgin Country Club, Elgin, IL
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
I'm the youngest in Illinois history to win the Girls Jr. PGA Qualifier. And I made the cut in the championship by four strokes.
HAVE YOU EVER PARTICIPATED IN A USGA OR PGA OF AMERICA EVENT? IF SO, WHICH ONE(S), WHEN, AND HOW DID YOU DO?
2021 Girls Jr. PGA Championship, 74th of 144. 2019 & 2021 US Girls Jr Qualifier (missed qualifying by one stroke)
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE?
2019 Championship at Greyhawk on Team Illinois
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
Meeting all of the people at the Saturday night dinner and going to the Monday practice round
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
I've qualified for the National Finals twice, coming from the Medinah regional.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
2017 National Finalist in Girls 7-9; 2015-2021, made the regional finals all but one year
DID YOU WATCH LAST YEAR’S DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT NATIONAL FINALS ON TELEVISION? IF SO, WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR?
Yes, I had already been to the 2017 Finals so I was just watching my friends.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Chipping, driving then putting
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
Yes, after the 2017 DCP Finals.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MASTERS MEMORY? U.S. OPEN OR U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN MEMORY? PGA CHAMPIONSHIP OR WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MEMORY?
Tiger Woods winning the 2019 Masters.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WATCHING GOLF ON TV?
The 2015 US Women's Open when In Gee Chun came from four behind in the final round and won by one stroke.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Rory McIlroy, because at the BMW at Medinah, I watched him almost be late to the next hole because he stopped and signed everyone's flags and hats.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Lydia Ko, because she is very accurate with her approach shots and has an amazing short game.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Rickie Fowler, because of his attitude and you can never tell if he hit a good or bad shot.
HAVE YOUR EVER PLAYED WITH SOMEONE FAMOUS? IF SO, WHO? PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES:
I took three days of lessons with Ben Curtis.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Lydia Ko, Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I don't change balls in the middle of the round if I'm playing well. Also, if I had a good round that day, I would try my best to replicate the same morning routine the next day.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
My mom's beef noodle soup.
FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT:
Math
FAVORITE SPORT (OTHER THAN GOLF):
Badminton
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Brother Bear
FAVORITE SINGER / MUSIC GROUP:
Queen
FAVORITE APP:
TikTok
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
I like to sing and I read tons of books.
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
Malala Yousafzai
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOUR GROW UP?
A professional golfer
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I'm somewhat of an introvert. I listen well, genuinely care about others, and I cry when reading a sad book.
