2026 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Dawson Dial
Cedar Park
,
Texas
Age: 12 - 13
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.
DO YOU PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED?
Right
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START PLAYING GOLF?
Nine months
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
9 holes - 28 (2 times: 1 competition 1 practice) and 18 holes - 61
HANDICAP INDEX:
2
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
Watching golf on TV as an infant and watching my dad practice in the house.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My dad
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My dad and my friends at Twin Creeks.
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Breck Spradley (Golf Channel Academy at Barton Creek Country Club) and Jeff Ronquillo (Twin Creeks Country Club)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
The competition. Even when I am out just playing different games or formats with my friends or family, I still like to compete. The feelings being in contention and coming down the stretch are the best!
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Controlling emotions and the mind is probably the most difficult. Next would be the amount of work and dedication required to be consistently great.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
Custom-made Scotty Cameron putter I received from Santa at five years old!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
TPC Sawgrass
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
2022 U.S. Kids World Champion - 9 year old division @ Pinehurst no. 1.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Practice A LOT
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE?
Yes - Member of Team Texas representing region 10 in the 2024 and 2025 National Rent-A-Car PGA Junior League National Championship at PGA Field Ranch in Frisco, Texas.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
The opportunity to make it to Augusta National!
DESCRIBE ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
Sank the 30-foot putt at the Regional Final for the second straight year.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
2021 - 2nd at Local, 4th at Subregional / 2022 1st at Local, 2nd at Subregional, 2nd at Regional and National Finals Alternate / 2023 4th at Subregional / 2024 1st at each Qualifier and National Champion Boys 10-11 / 2025 National Finalist
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?
Making it to Augusta last year made me want to participate again and get back to the National Finals.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
I feel my game is all around solid. Putting is definitely a strength.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
Last year during the National Finals.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
I like cool looking club headcovers. I like collecting them from different places and using them for a while.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Tiger Woods because of his mental strength and perseverance to overcome anything.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Rose Zhang because she has a great attitude every time I've seen her compete.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Jordan Spieth because of some of the great shots he pulled out at tournaments and how he reacted to them.
HAVE YOUR EVER PLAYED WITH SOMEONE FAMOUS? IF SO, WHO? PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES:
I played with Joe Durant in April of 2024. I was invited to play at the Insperity Junior Pro-Am at the Woodlands and Mr. Durant was my pro. He finished 2nd in the tournament that week too! I also played with Kirk Triplett at the same event 2 years before in 2022. That was cool because I birdied our last hole (#10) on Woodlands Tournament Course to beat Mr. Triplett by 1 that day!
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I only play tournaments with #1 golf balls and mark them with a red dot.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Cheese breadsticks, pasta bar with lasagna, cheese ravioli, and various noodles with meat, alfredo, and marinara sauces and a salad bar. For dessert I would have ice cream cookies (chocolate or vanilla) with M&M's on the cookies.
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
I love to go fishing, especially at the Texas Coast. I also enjoy playing basketball.
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES/ROLE MODELS?
Jesus and my parents.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Attitude is everything.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Professional golfer. It's all I've ever wanted to be, back to since I can remember anything.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
Mostly measured but I like to goof off and have fun too. Ice water under pressure.
