80 Regional Winners Earn Invitations to 2020 National Finals

dcp 2019 finals regionals.jpg
Benny Nelson and Conner Ford in the Boys 7 - 9 age group react during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 7, 2019.
Scott K. Brown/Scott K. Brown/Augusta National

Eighty junior golfers representing 30 U.S. states, two Canadian provinces and France have earned their spot to compete in the seventh annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, to be played on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at Augusta National Golf Club, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.

Conducted in partnership among the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America and the USGA, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide youth golf development program open to boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age divisions. The three-pronged competition tests the skills essential to playing the game – accuracy in driving, chipping and putting.

Results of the 10 regional qualifiers – the third and final stage conducted at the nation’s most storied championship sites – yielded 17 returning competitors, including impressive four-time National Finalist Kasey Maralack. Returning finalists are:

- Brady Barnum (2018 National Finalist), of Dublin, Ohio
- Luke Coyle (2017 National Finalist), of Campbellsville, Ky.
- Lance Hollingshead (2018 National Finalist), of Basking Ridge, N.J.
- Maye Huang (2017 National Champion and 2019 National Finalist), of Katy, Texas
- Chase Hughes (2019 National Finalist), of Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Cole Kim (2018 National Finalist), of La Crescenta, Calif.
- Kasey Maralack (2014, 2018 and 2019 National Finalist), of Snoqualmie, Wash.
- Ali Mulhall (2018 National Finalist), of Green River, Wyo.
- Alexandra Phung (2019 National Finalist), of Forest Hills, N.Y.
- Andrew Ramos (2018 National Finalist), of Blaine, Minn.
- Mateo Rascon (2017 National Finalist), of Mediapolis, Iowa
- Miles Russell (2018 National Finalist), of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
- Howard Shu (2017 National Finalist), of Saratoga, Calif.
- Ryan Nana Tanke (2019 National Finalist), of Paris, France
- Sam Udovich (2016 and 2018 National Finalist), of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
- Yana Wilson (2019 National Champion), of Henderson, Nev.
- Lucy Yuan (2017 National Finalist), of San Diego, Calif.
- Avery Zweig (2016 and 2018 National Finalist), of McKinney, Texas

Local qualifying for the seventh season began in May and was held at more than 300 sites throughout all 50 states this summer. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys’ and girls’ divisions, advanced to more than 60 subregional qualifiers in July and August. The top two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October. Regional qualifying was held at 10 courses around the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

The top finisher from each regional site’s age/gender divisions – a total of 80 finalists – earned a place in the National Finals which will be broadcast live on Golf Channel. All local, subregional and regional qualifiers were conducted by the 41 Sections of the PGA of America, with PGA Professionals providing support at each facility hosting a qualifier.

Notes from Regional Qualifying:

At storied Oakmont Country Club (host of nine U.S. Open Championships), Jillian Burks claimed the Girls 10-11 division by 32 points over the nearest competitor. “Just watching the other girls hit the ball, I would have never expected to win,” she said. When Burks drives up Magnolia Lane next April, she will follow in the footsteps of her cousin Paul Stankowski, who played on the PGA TOUR and finished as high as T5 in the Masters Tournament in 1997. After his first drive went out of bounds, Gavin Baker calmed himself and put on an impressive performance to win the Boys 10-11 division. Faced with a final 30-foot putt breaking left-to-right, he drained the putt. “I had seen everyone miss it short, but I put it in,” said Baker. “That was good for a fist pump.”

Saia Rampersaud relied on a little superstition to win the Girls 12-13 division at Atlanta Athletic Club (site of three PGA championships, the 1976 U.S. Open, the 1990 U.S. Women’s Open, and the 2014 U.S. Amateur), bringing a lucky driver head cover that is a replica of her 85-pound Airedale terrier. She attended the Augusta National Women’s Amateur last year and is looking forward not only to playing golf on her next trip, but also to returning to shop. “That was fun,” she said. In Jackson Skinner’s first-ever regional qualifier, he posted a division-best 50 points in the chipping skill and won the Boys 12-13 division by three points. “I didn’t feel comfortable until after I was done,” he said. The 12-year-old has a twin sister, Maggie, who doesn’t play golf, but will be supporting him every step of the way next April.

Kasey Maralack’s short game propelled her to history at Chambers Bay Golf Club (site of the 2015 U.S. Open), where she became the fourth four-time National Finalist by winning the Girls 14-15 division. “I’m really excited to go back and do the whole experience again,” she said. In the 2018 National Finals, Maralack tied for second overall in the Girls 12-13 division, but she says winning in 2020 would be the “cherry on top.” Loden Chen created a buzz when he climbed from sixth place to first in the Boys 7-9 division, thanks to a strong putting performance. “I just practiced well, and I was feeling it,” he explained. Looking ahead to his first trip to the National Finals next April, Chen said, “I’m going to try and win it and hopefully shake Tiger’s hand.”

Reese Wallace celebrated an 11th birthday to remember at Colorado Golf Club (site of the 2010 Senior PGA Championship and 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship). In a winner-take-all playoff with Evyn Cannon, Wallace lagged a putt that Cannon’s rolled past to take the Girls 10-11 division title. “I’ve waited the last five years just to get to regionals,” she said. “And now I’m going to Augusta!” Nine-year-old Chase Hughes, who placed fourth in the Boys 7-9 division in last year’s National Finals, was determined to return. Chase said he “couldn’t figure out those fast greens” at Augusta National, but he’s looking forward to another try in 2020.

In the first playoff in Western Regional history, 9-year-old Grace Oh overcame a nervous putter at Torrey Pines Golf Course (site of the 2008 U.S. Open) to win the Girls 7-9 division. Under playoff pressure, she excelled in the drive skill discipline with the club she said she’s “liked the best since I was born.” Cole Kim commanded the greens at Torrey Pines with a perfect score of 75 in the putt skill discipline en route to winning the Boys 10-11 division. Kim will return to the National Finals for the second time in his young career, last qualifying in 2018. “I learned Augusta’s greens are really fast. I learned that if I try hard, I can make it to Augusta, and I did,” he said.

Trailing the leader by 30 points entering the final skill discipline of the day at Interlachen Country Club (site of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Championship and 2016 Junior Ryder Cup), Ashleyjen Powell made both her five-foot and 15-foot putt attempts and stopped her 30-foot attempt within a foot of the cup to win the Girls 14-15 division by five points. When asked what the highlight of her golf career has been so far, she replied, "Can I say this? What I just did today." Sam Udovich scored 150 total points to win the Boys 12-13 division and a return trip to the National Finals, the third of his young career. Braving winters in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Udovich travels to keep his game in top shape. "We travel year-round," his father Michael noted. "Every month during the winter, we go someplace where we can play golf."

A recent junior golf inductee into the African-American Golf Hall of Fame, Morgan Rodriguez added another resume highlight at TPC Sawgrass (site of THE PLAYERS) by scoring 145 total points to win the Girls 12-13 division. “This was one of my biggest dreams,” she said. “I’m very happy that I get to go to Augusta before I age out." In the Boys 14-15 division, eighth-grader Elijah Zamarron dominated the field for a 39-point margin of victory. He had previously attempted to qualify for the National Finals three times and credits his success this year to his practice. “I practiced every day, and I practiced until dark, but it was worth it,” said Zamarron.

The Phung sisters dominated their competition at TPC River Highlands (site of the annual Travelers Championship). Both Alexandra and Amelie won their division and will compete at Augusta National in the Girls 7-9 and Girls 12-13 division, respectively. “It’s really amazing that we were both able to step up on the same day, handle the pressure and everything,” said older sister, Amelie. Facing a close competition in the Boys 12-13 division — just 22 points separated the top nine finishers — Brayden Dock took home the top spot thanks to solid performances across all three disciplines. He topped the leader board with 130 points. “I’ve never been to Augusta, and I’m really excited to go,” said Dock. “I don’t care how well I do, I just want to be there.”

Armed with the poise and experience of a veteran, Maye Huang won both the Drive and Putt skill disciplines to win the Girls 12-13 division at The Alotian Club (site of the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup) to return to the National Finals for the third time. “This gives me confidence, and I know what it’s like if I mess up or something,” she said. Huang, whose brother Treed was a two-time National Champion and a four-time National Finalist, was the 2017 Girls 7-9 National Champion and said she was “really excited to go back.” In the Boys 10-11 division, 11-year-old Henry Guan was simply dominant, winning all three skill disciplines to amass 162 points and win the division by more than 30 points. “One of my dreams has always been to play Augusta National,” Guan said, hardly able to sit still while holding four gold medals – one for each skill and one for the overall. “On a scale of one to 10, qualifying to go there is a 10 for me, I cannot describe the feeling.”

As a freshman this high school golf season, 15-year-old Kate Brody averaged 73 strokes. She brought those skills to the regional qualifier at Oakland Hills (site of six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships), scoring a total of 130 points to place first in the Girls 14-15 division. Of her putting skills, Brody said, “From the time my brother and I could walk, we had putters in our hands and my dad [a golf professional] took us to play miniature golf at least once a week." After his first drive went out of bounds, Brady Barnum made a comeback to place first overall in the Boys 10-11 division. “I like the short game,” he said after scoring 50 points in both the Chip and Putt disciplines. Since taking up golf at the age of 3, Barnum has traveled across the country to play golf—including the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, where he placed fifth overall.

All championship scoring at the local, subregional and regional qualifiers was based on a 25-point-per-shot basis, with each participant taking three shots per skill. Each participant accumulated points per shot in all three skills (maximum of 75 points per skill = 25 points per shot x 3). The overall winner in each age category was determined by the participant with the most points accumulated between all three skills (maximum of 225 points = 75 points per skill x 3).

For each skill, the point system was based in incremental distance measurements, rewarding accuracy and distance in the drive skill, and proximity for chipping and putting skills. Difficulty increases with age.

At the National Finals, one champion will be named from each age/gender division. Each finalist will be scored based on a 30-point system, offering the player with the best drive 10 points, the player with the closest cumulative chips 10 points and the player with the nearest cumulative putts 10 points, in each separate skill. The highest total composite score will determine the winner.

Full Qualifying Results

Girls 7-9

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Alexis Card

107

Cambridge

Ontario

Oakmont Country Club

Riley Adkins

115

Lawsonville

N.C.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Anna Wu

122

Victoria

British Columbia

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Lydia Boles

102

Ballwin

Mo.

Colorado Golf Club

Grace Oh

81

La Canada

Calif.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Ava Frazier

122

Round Rock

Texas

Interlachen Country Club

Reese McMillan

102

Jupiter

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Alexandra Phung

105

Forest Hills

N.Y.

TPC River Highlands

Kylie Fisher

96

Tahlequah

Okla.

The Alotian Club

Ressie Lemmon

93

McCordsville

Ind.

Oakland Hills

Girls 10-11

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Jillian Burks

133

Paoli

Pa.

Oakmont Country Club

Ashnoor Kaur

137

Roanoke

Va.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Kate Ly

139

Portland

Ore.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Reese Wallace

134

South Barrington

Ill.

Colorado Golf Club

Jessica Hudson

120

San Marcos

Calif.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

McKenna Nelson

135

Beaver Dam

Wis.

Interlachen Country Club

Elyse Meerdink

111

Tampa

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Champa Visetsin

119

Natick

Mass.

TPC River Highlands

Karstyn Altese

127

Diamondhead

Miss.

The Alotian Club

Athena Singh

89

Morehead

Ky.

Oakland Hills

Girls 12-13

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Amelia Cho

141

Ashburn

Va.

Oakmont Country Club

Saia Rampersaud

146

Durham

N.C.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Katelyn Chang

148

San Jose

Calif.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Yana Wilson

166

Henderson

Nev.

Colorado Golf Club

Lucy Yuan

147

San Diego

Calif.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Avery Zweig

158

McKinney

Texas

Interlachen Country Club

Morgan Rodriguez

145

Delray Beach

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Amelie Phung

136

Forest Hills

N.Y.

TPC River Highlands

Maye Huang

128

Katy

Texas

The Alotian Club

Kristina Ma

123

Columbus

Ohio

Oakland Hills

Girls 14-15

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Helen Yeung

164

Beltsville

Md.

Oakmont Country Club

Macy Pate

149

Boone

N.C.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Kasey Maralack

148

Snoqualmie

Wash.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Ali Mulhall

158

Green River

Wyo.

Colorado Golf Club

Sofina Firouzi

133

Rancho Santa Fe

Calif.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Ashleyjen Powell

143

Appleton

Wis.

Interlachen Country Club

Analiese Raath

151

Lakeland

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Samantha Galantini

142

West Orange

N.J.

TPC River Highlands

Samantha Straight

152

Lewisville

Texas

The Alotian Club

Kate Brody

130

Grand Blanc

Mich.

Oakland Hills

Boys 7-9

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Ryan Hooker

120

Oakton

Va.

Oakmont Country Club

Brandt Prinsloo

130

Alpharetta

Ga.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Loden Chen

128

Palo Alto

Calif.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Chase Hughes

145

Oklahoma City

Okla.

Colorado Golf Club

Pierson Huyck

142

Phoenix

Ariz.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Mitchell Shroyer

99

Middleton

Wis.

Interlachen Country Club

Ryan Nana Tanke

157

Paris

France

TPC Sawgrass

Cole Roberts

107

Oshawa

Ontario

TPC River Highlands

Porter Hart

119

Broken Arrow

Okla.

The Alotian Club

Lucas Bernstein

108

Williamston

Mich.

Oakland Hills

Boys 10-11

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Gavin Baker

123

Greencastle

Pa.

Oakmont Country Club

John John Santospago

148

Charlotte

N.C.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Brady Barrington

134

Kingsburg

Calif.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Steven Berzack

153

Lebanon

Mo.

Colorado Golf Club

Cole Kim

151

La Crescenta

Calif.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Logan Keeter

118

Northbrook

Ill.

Interlachen Country Club

Miles Russell

130

Jacksonville Beach

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Anthony Colonna

135

Barrington

R.I.

TPC River Highlands

Henry Guan

162

Irving

Texas

The Alotian Club

Brady Barnum

130

Dublin

Ohio

Oakland Hills

Boys 12-13

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Nicholas Werner

140

Wilkes Barre

Pa.

Oakmont Country Club

Jackson Skinner

158

Birmingham

Ala.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Ethan Lien

156

Cupertino

Calif.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Duff Mckay

156

Dallas

Texas

Colorado Golf Club

Ryan Sefrioui

140

Scottsdale

Ariz.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Sam Udovich

150

Inver Grove Heights

Minn.

Interlachen Country Club

Gavin Hutchinson

125

Myrtle Beach

S.C.

TPC Sawgrass

Brayden Dock

130

Queensbury

N.Y.

TPC River Highlands

Finn Burkholder

146

The Woodlands

Texas

The Alotian Club

Bradford Lacefield

139

Versailles

Ky.

Oakland Hills

Boys 14-15

Name

Points

City

State/Province

Regional

Alexander Leskovansky

111

Houtzdale

Pa.

Oakmont Country Club

Tejas Reddy

177

Johns Creek

Ga.

Atlanta Athletic Club

Howard Shu

155

Saratoga

Calif.

Chambers Bay Golf Course

Mateo Rascon

205

Mediapolis

Iowa

Colorado Golf Club

Nicholas Kilgore

172

Las Vegas

Nev.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Andrew Ramos

167

Blaine

Minn.

Interlachen Country Club

Elijah Zamarron

167

Sunrise

Fla.

TPC Sawgrass

Lance Hollingshead

143

Basking Ridge

N.J.

TPC River Highlands

Jaivir Pande

174

Houston

Texas

The Alotian Club

Luke Coyle

150

Campbellsville

Ky.

Oakland Hills

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