2026 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Mathew Cuellar
Manvel
,
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.
DO YOU PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED?
Right
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START PLAYING GOLF?
10
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
38/72
HANDICAP INDEX:
5
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
Because my dad took me to the range when I was younger.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My grandpa
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My friends
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Eujone "EJ" Kim and Joseph Mayo
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
Playing wolf with my friends from my course.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Being consistent and mentally strong.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
8-iron
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Quintero in Phoenix, AZ
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
Making it to the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Stay calm and do not swing out of your shoes on the drive portion.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
Winning
DESCRIBE ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
I would say realizing I made it to the National Finals.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
This was my first time participating in Drive, Chip and Putt.
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 not watch it live but I saw a lot of videos from it, which made me want to give it a try.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Driving, putting, chipping
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
My belts
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Min Woo Lee because he is a really good golfer and his swing is amazing. Also, he is younger and that is inspiring to me.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Alexa Pano because part of the reason I started golf was from a documentary on Netflix about junior golfers and she was on there.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Min Woo Lee because his past tournament videos are sick.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Michael Jordan, Jordan Spieth, John Daly
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Wings (Buffalo Wild Wings)
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
Basketball, chess, Rubik's cube
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES/ROLE MODELS?
My dad and my grandpa
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
To treat everyone with respect.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
PGA Tour golfer
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
Unique and confident
