2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Andrew Bird
Nacogdoches
,
Texas
Age: 14 - 15
Gender: Boys
Region: South Central
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 BIRTHPLACE:
Nacogdoches, Texas
HOME GOLF COURSE AND LOCATION:
Crown Colony Country Club Golf, Lufkin Texas
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
5
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
70
HANDICAP INDEX:
0.5
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
When I was 3 I got my first plastic golf set for Christmas and would hit balls all around the house.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My grandfather
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My dad, grandfather (aka Granddude) and my friends
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Sam Fidone and Jake Smelser, Cory Ryan (PGA Jr. League)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
I love that it's fun yet challenging. Every shot is different, no course is the same.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
The process. It's a mental challenge.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
7 iron
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
My favorite course that I have played is Kelly Plantation in Florida. I would love to play Pebble Beach one day.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
My biggest achievement so far is winning the South Texas Junior PGA Summer Championship and also making it to the Finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt. Another acheivement I am proud of is qualifying and playing in the Under Armour World Championship last summer in Orlando, Florida.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Keep grinding and put a lot of practice into it.
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE?
Yes
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
Getting to compete against kids from all over the country.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
When my family was there to celebrate with me when I won the Regional Qualifier.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
In 2021, made it to the sub regional Qualifiers. In 2022 & 2023, I competed as a local qualifier and in 2024, I made it to the National Qualifier in Augusta!
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?
I did. It got me excited and encouraged me to work harder to qualify for this year.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Putting, Driving, Chipping
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
Yes. My dad and I went to the Masters on Saturday and Sunday of 2023.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
My Mad 9 hat and my ball marker
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Max Homa because he has a good mental game and is a strong golfer.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Nelly Corda because she is very focused and strong golfer.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Joel Dahmen because he is always having fun and wears the coolest buckets hats.
HAVE YOUR EVER PLAYED WITH SOMEONE FAMOUS? IF SO, WHO? PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES:
I played with Davis Riley when I was 8 years old. He was playing at the University of Alabama at the time. His wife, is from my hometown of Nacogdoches, Tx and babysat my sisters and I when we were younger. He also came to my home course of Crown Colony and hosted a Junior Golf Clinic where we had the opportunity to play with him as well and do a meet and greet and QA session.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Tiger Woods, Will Ferrell, and Ben Hogan
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I keep 4-5 tees in my pocket. If I have a bad hole with a tee I do not use that tee for the rest of the round. If I have a good hole with I tee, I will continue to play with that tee until I have a bad hole.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Filet Mignon, chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, tomatoes with lemon pepper, uncrustables, and pickles. I would have warm brownies with ice cream for dessert.
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
I play soccer and run track. I also enjoy playing pickleball.
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
My dad and my grandfather are both role models of mine. They are always pushing me to do my best and always there to support me at every tournament.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Be a goldfish. Goldfish have a 10 second memory so when I hit a bad shot, I remember to be a goldfish and forget about it and move on to the next shot.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A professional golfer
