2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Travis Elegado
Monrovia
,
California
Age: 12 - 13
Gender: Boys
Region: Southwest
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:
Arcadia, California
HOME GOLF COURSE AND LOCATION:
Arcadia Golf Course Arcadia, CA
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right handed
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
5 years old
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
-3 (18 holes)
HANDICAP INDEX:
4.9
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
Introduced to golf by dad and started taking lessons at a local junior academy.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
Dad
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
Dad and golf friends
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Tim Rao and Dad
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
It's an individual sport so you do the work and can't blame anyone else but yourself.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Maintaining a good swing
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
8-iron
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Mauna Lani, Hawaii
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
Making it to Augusta National for the DCP Final this year
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Don't think ahead and take it one shot at a time.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
That it's not like a typical golf tournament
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
This year during the Regional at Hualalai, feeling relieved after getting all my 3 drives in bounds.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
2019 (subregional), 2020(covid yr), 2021 (regional), 2022(local), 2023(regional), 2024(local), 2025(Finals)
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. The enjoyment I saw from the players showed how much fun I would have there.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Driving, Putting, Chipping
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
Hat
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Tiger Woods because of how good he was in his prime
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Lizette Salas, because I saw her once in my local golf course. It was cool to watch her.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Rickie Fowler, because of his bright orange clothes
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and my dad
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Steak, mashed potatoes, with a side of mac & cheese and chocolate lava cake for dessert.
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
Cross country running, Volleyball, hanging out with friends
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
In golf, don't overthink and take it one shot at a time
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A real estate agent or a lawyer
