2024 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
McKenna Nelson
Beaver Dam
,
WI
Age: 14 - 15
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.
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Sub-Regional QualifierEvent CompletedStevens Point, WI 54481Aug 13, 2023
HOME GOLF COURSE AND LOCATION:
Old Hickory Golf Club, Beaver Dam, WI
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
4
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
69
HANDICAP INDEX:
0.5
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
My parents never wanted to get a babysitter so they always took me out to the course and I instantly fell in love with the game.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My parents
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My parents or one of my high school teammates.
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Don DuChateau
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
The friendship you gain and the places you get to travel to.
WHAT PART OF GOLF DO YOU LIKE TO PRACTICE THE MOST?
Putting because there is always room for improvement.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Keeping your head in it mentally for 18 straight holes.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLUB?
Driver
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
PGA National
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
Becoming the youngest person to win the Wisconsin Womens Match Play at the age of 14.
HAVE YOU EVER PARTICIPATED IN A USGA OR PGA OF AMERICA EVENT? IF SO, WHICH ONE(S), WHEN, AND HOW DID YOU DO?
2023 USGA Womens Amateur Four ball, The Home Course. My partner and I made it to the round of 32.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Always keep your head up and hard work goes a long way.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
The friendships you get along the way and the way Drive, Chip, and Putt has always made me work for what I wanted.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
Qualifying my last year was by far most memorable especially when I had some of my closet friends there as competition.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
Yes, 2015- First local qualifier- 3rd in driving. 2016- First sub regional qualifier- 2nd in driving. 2017- First regional trip- 2nd place- missed out by 2 points. 2018- Regionals- did not place. 2019- Qualified for National Finals. 2021- Regionals-3rd place. 2022- Sub regionals- 3rd place.
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, ever since I made it to the National Finals and got to experience what Augusta National is like, its been hard to watch it and I remember telling my parents that I wanted it more than anything to make it my last year.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Driving, Chipping, Putting
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
Yes, for the National Finals in 2021.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
US Womens Fourball Headcover
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MASTERS MEMORY? U.S. OPEN OR U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN MEMORY? PGA CHAMPIONSHIP OR WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MEMORY?
Watching Tiger win in 2019
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WATCHING GOLF ON TV?
I am a huge Taylor Swift fan and watching the Taylor Swift US Womens Open commercial always gave me the shivers and gave me a whole bunch of confidence to work to be there one day.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Joel Dahmen because he is super funny.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Amy Olson because she is super nice and sent me a video wishing me good luck last time I went to the National Finals.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Kevin Kisner because he seems down to Earth and a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan like me.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Taylor Swift, Stevie Mitchell (Favorite Marquette Basketball Player), Emily Lyons (a girl who passed away in a snowmobile accident from my hometown that was an avid golfer)
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I wore the same golf shoes to every one of my high school golf meets. I also mark my golf ball the same every round.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Cajun Chicken Pasta with sides of Caesar Salad and Cheesy Garlic Bread. My dessert would be a chocolate chip cookie skillet.
FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT:
Marketing
FAVORITE SPORT (OTHER THAN GOLF):
Volleyball
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
FAVORITE SINGER / MUSIC GROUP:
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
The Summer I Turned Pretty
FAVORITE APP:
Tiktok
FAVORITE EMOJI:
Heart hands
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
I love to workout and watch college football and basketball.
DESCRIBE ANY OBSTACLES YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR LIFE:
I was diagnosed with SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) the day before my first high school meet this August. It is a condition where there is an extra valve in your heart which can cause your heart to beat really fast. Unfortunately, there is always a trigger point in this condition. Mine is when ever I am at impact with a golf ball. I went to a specialist to see what the options were and they said that it is not life threatening, and most people walk out doing nothing about it. I can live with it or get an ablation done so I never have to worry. I was really impacted by this condition to the point where I was scared to even swing a club. I have now learned to live with it but my decision whether to get the ablation is still undecided.
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
"Someone always has it worse than you right now."
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A professional golfer on the LPGA tour and/or a PGA Professional Golf Instructor
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I am determined and I never let anyone get in the way of my dreams and goals but also care a lot for my friends and family and love spending quality time with them.
