Even Mother Nature couldn’t subdue the enthusiasm emanating from 80 junior golfers preparing for Sunday morning’s ninth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.
When a thunderstorm moved through Augusta at midday on Saturday, practice plans at The River Club in North Augusta, S.C., were interrupted. But Drive, Chip and Putt participants bookended practice sessions in the morning before a deluge hit the area and resumed their preparation in the afternoon to get ready for their big day. They also milled about the downtown Marriott Hotel, dreaming of the big day on Sunday.
On Saturday evening, the participants and their families gathered in downtown Augusta for a welcoming ceremony. A large group photo was taken with Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, followed by dinner at the Marriott. Leaders of the United States golf organizations headlined the dinner program to celebrate the junior golfers’ accomplishment. They will be shuttled from the hotel early Sunday morning and enter the grounds via Magnolia Lane before testing their skills at the Tournament Practice Area, which includes the driving and chipping portions. The putting will take place on the 18th green at Augusta National.
During Saturday evening’s event, DCP participants were able to ask questions of the leaders of the PGA of America, President John Lindert; the USGA, President Fred Perpall; and Augusta National, Chairman Fred Ridley.
Ridley was asked about his first visit to Augusta National, an experience most of the juniors will take in on Sunday morning. Ridley said it occurred in 1976 when he was age 23 and the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. He played with Jack Nicklaus, the 1975 Masters Champion, in the first round. But the biggest encounter Ridley remembered was a brief time with the first Augusta National Chairman, Clifford Roberts, on the back lawn. It was Roberts’ final Masters as Chairman.
“I was standing out there, taking it all in,” Ridley recalled. “I turned around and from me to you was Mr. Roberts. Of course, I was a little intimidated. We had a very nice conversation, and he talked about our Par 3 Course, which he was passionate about. He wanted to make sure I was adequately prepared for the Par 3 Course.”
Conducted in partnership with the USGA, Masters Tournament and PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide youth golf development program open to boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age divisions.
Driving down Magnolia Lane has been the biggest dream so far in my life. It’s so cool to finally accomplish it.
Nine returning competitors will see Augusta National again on Sunday. Led by three-time finalist Alexander Phung of Forest Hills, N.Y., the returnees include Jace Benson of Morgan, Utah, Martha Kuwahara of Northbrook, Ill., Natalie Martin of Park Rapids, Minn., Aadi Parmar of Selma, Texas, Luke Parsons of Salley, S.C., Paige Radebach of Webberville, Mich., Leo Saito of Hilo, Hawaii, and Keita Yobiko of West Covina, Calif. They are a part of a contingent representing 29 states and two Canadian provinces.
“Driving down Magnolia Lane has been the biggest dream so far in my life,” said 9-year-old Jacob Eagan of Castle Rock, Colo. “It’s so cool to finally accomplish it.”
Joseph Morinelli is back to where it all began. Born in Augusta, he wakes up every morning in Crozet, Va., to a map of Augusta National Golf Club and a huge sticker in the shape of the Masters flag on his bedroom wall.
Local qualifying began last May and was held at 342 sites across the country over the summer of 2022. Sunday’s competition will be broadcast live on Golf Channel.
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.
For more information about Drive, Chip and Putt, please visit www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
