2026 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Texas Terry
Austin
,
TX
Age: 12 - 13
Gender: Boys
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.
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
I play golf and other sports right-handed, but I’m actually left-handed.
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
5 years old
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
My lowest tournament round is 60 (27/33) on 18 holes to win the 2023 Texas State Championship (for my third time).
HANDICAP INDEX:
0
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
When I was five years old, I started with youth group classes at TopGolf in Austin, Texas. My TopGolf Coach used plastic dinosaurs to teach me how to make a proper golf swing.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My dad and granddad let me tag along with them when they played golf.
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
I enjoy playing golf with the members of ShadowGlen Golf Club.
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
My swing coach is John Sosa, and my short game/putting coach is Kirk Lohmann.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
I love playing golf with my friends at beautiful courses all over the world. I have played golf across 7 countries, earning Top 5 finishes on four continents in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. I have won golf tournaments in 14 states.
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Accepting that no matter how hard you try, practice, and work, you can't hit every shot perfectly.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
My putter
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Of all the courses I’ve played worldwide, my two favorites are the Old Course at St Andrews and Whistling Straits.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
I am the first junior golfer in Central Texas to win the U.S. Kids World Championship and the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals. I have placed in the Top 3 in a World Junior Golf Championship four times. I have made 6 holes-in-one.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
Don't be afraid to try...everyone has a chance!
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE?
Yes. Team Texas from Austin qualified for the PGA Jr. League National Championship at PGA Frisco in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, Team Texas made it in the Top Four to play in the Match Play Semi-Finals. Unfortunately, due to weather, the final day’s format was changed, and Team Texas was not given the opportunity to play for the Championship. Team Texas won its Match Play event and was named the 3rd place team.
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN FIRST TEE?
Yes! I attended Coach Charles' Wednesday classes and mentored other junior golfers in First Tee Austin at the Harvey Penick Golf Campus.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
That junior golf is given national attention!
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
I came in 1st place at the Local, Subregional, and Regional. I made the 6-foot putt at all 3 qualifiers, as well as the 15-foot putt at the Regional.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
Yes, I won the Boys 10-11 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in 2024. I have made it to Regionals four times.
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. It inspired me to get back to Augusta National!
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Chipping, driving, putting
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
Yes, I attended the Monday practice round in 2024 after I won the Boys 10-11 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
My Titleist golf ball: It has a #10 on for Vince Young’s number, a state of Texas outline, and my name on it. Hopefully you won’t find my ball in the woods or in the water.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Scottie Scheffler is my favorite golfer. He is the #1 Golfer in the World and brings a lot of championships back to The University of Texas. Scottie also puts faith and family first, and those are important to me, as well.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Farah O’Keefe, a junior golfer at The University of Texas, is my favorite female golfer. I spent time with her and enjoyed learning about what it takes to become a collegiate golfer.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Tommy Fleetwood. He has a cool accent and the best hair on Tour! I was so excited when he won the Tour Championship! I would love to play golf with his son, Franklin. Franklin gives excellent interviews!
HAVE YOUR EVER PLAYED WITH SOMEONE FAMOUS? IF SO, WHO? PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES:
In 2023, I played in The 14th Annual Tee It Up for Cole Pittman Golf Tournament. Cole Pittman was a former University of Texas football player, who was tragically killed in an early morning car accident in 2001. To celebrate his life, former Longhorn football players organize a golf tournament to benefit an endowed scholarship. I played with Longhorn football greats: Roy Williams, BJ Johnson, Sloan Thomas, and Kwame Cavil. I shot my 5th hole-in-one at the tournament, and those Longhorn Legends and Vince Young (who was on another team) signed a golf flag for me and presented it to me during the Awards Ceremony!
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
My dream foursome would be Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Ben Crenshaw. Hook ‘em!
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
During warmups, before I tee off for a tournament, I have a music playlist that gets me pumped up and ready to play.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
A dinner fit for a Texan. Texas BBQ: Franklin’s brisket, fried okra, Blue Bell chocolate ice cream, and sweet tea.
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
I raise Texas Longhorns cattle. My Longhorns are very tame and love to be brushed. One of my Longhorns was born in 2005, and we named him Vince in honor of Vince Young! I like doing jobs around the ranch, like checking fences, herding our neighbors’ cattle back onto their property, feeding our tortoises, and helping my grandparents. I love to go fishing in our pond, I enjoy playing sports, I love doing community service, I am a registered volunteer at Austin Pets Alive!
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
Harvey Penick is my role model. In 2023, my class assignment was to study a famous Texan. I selected Harvey Penick, and read his "Little Red Book." I also visited his grave and saw many golf balls placed on his grave as a token of appreciation for being such an extraordinary teacher of golf and life lessons. For my presentation about the great Harvey Penick, I dressed like him and brought his book to school for my friends to read.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Have a good attitude, try your best and have fun!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A professional golfer.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I am a funny and athletic 7th grader who loves math, exploring the world, leading a team, making new friends, and helping others to make a positive impact on the world.
