Competition Is Made Sweeter At Chambers Bay Because Of Family

Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Final — SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 21: Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Chambers Bay golf course on September 21, 2024 in University Place, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

For three families at the Chambers Bay regional qualifier, Drive, Chip and Putt has become an annual tradition that proves the game is better when experienced together.

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Competitorscame to this venue that has hosted prestigious events, including a U.S. Open, worldly but wide-eyed, confident but nervous, talkative but shy, and with graceful swings for their young age.

They were aware, but not fully aware, of what it meant to win Saturday’s Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier and earn a trip to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club.

But they did not come alone.

The game of golf fosters connections and commitments and family relationships. At Saturday’s regional qualifier, several sets of siblings, who have learned the game together, succeeded together in reaching this stage.

Joe and Ann Werner of Sandy, Utah, have four daughters. They all play golf, and they all compete annually in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition.

“It’s kind of in our DNA now,” Joe said. “The game is something we can do together, like a through-line. It’s our main activity, and one of the events we put on our calendar each year is to compete in Drive, Chip and Putt.”

All four daughters began competing in the Girls 7-9 division. Isabella, the oldest, is now 16 and has aged out of the competition. But the other three – Ava, 14; Lillian, 12; and Josephine, 10 – are still in the game, and all three competed in the regional.

“This is the first time that any of the girls have made it this far,” Joe said. “We’re all beyond excited just to be here and to have this chance at making it to the (National) Finals.”

During the year, Joe plays golf at least twice a week with his daughters. He also makes full use of Utah’s Youth on Course program as well as First Tee – both of which provide greater access and opportunities for families and kids getting into the game.

Joe’s wife Ann does not play golf but is her daughters’ No. 1 fan and also the No. 1 consoler when they struggle with their game. She played an important role on Saturday, as none of the three advanced to the National Finals. But that won’t stop them.

This fall, Ava and Isabella will duel it out for the No. 1 spot on the girls’ golf team at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper, Utah. Ava – along with Lillian and Josephine – will be back competing in Drive, Chip and Putt next year, trying for another chance at a trip to Augusta National.

We tried a lot of different sports and activities for them, but golf is the only game that stuck with them. They love it, and it’s something we can do together, so that’s what we’re doing.”

Joe Wu

Two years ago, John Lavendoski took his twins, Stephen and Esther, to Augusta National to watch two of their friends compete in the National Finals.

“They had already competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt for two years, but seeing Augusta in person really hit it home for them,” he said. “From that point on, it was their goal to make it there.”

Esther has shown promise in other competitions, recently finishing fourth in her age division at the U.S. Kids Golf Irish Open. The family had made a pilgrimage to Ireland to visit John’s wife Kathleen’s relatives.

“(Kathleen) has Parkinson’s, and we don’t know how much longer we’ll have her, and we wanted her to visit her ancestors,” he said. “Giving Esther a chance to play in a tournament while there was a bonus.”