KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Victoria Davis, girls 12-13 group, reacts after her putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier featured international talent, local favorites, a career finale and a Curtis Cup tie.
KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. – Not many road signs mark the way from Interstate 40, through the winding hills and forests of Middle Tennessee, to the Golf Club of Tennessee.
But Shambhavi Chaturvedi couldn’t care less.
She covered nearly 8,000 miles as the crow flies from Delhi to Amsterdam to Atlanta to Nashville in less than a week. Add another 30 miles from Nashville International Airport to Exit 188 and then a handful more to the charming setting of her Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier. The Golf Club of Tennessee, which also hosted the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, was a welcomed haven.
“It really is wonderful out here,” Chaturvedi said.
Chaturvedi traveled earlier this summer from her hometown of Noida, India, to the United States for a seven-week golf circuit. First came the Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifier in Mebane, N.C. Then to California for some friendly competition. Then back to North Carolina for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at Pinehurst No. 5, where she earned a top-15 finish in her age group. Then a Drive, Chip and Putt subregional in the Tar Heel State. Then back home to India.
After advancing from her Drive, Chip and Putt subregional at Duke University Golf Club, Chaturvedi competed in the regional under Sarah LeBrun Ingram’s eye. Ingram is one of the most decorated Blue Devils ever and a three-time Curtis Cup team member – and later a captain – for the United States.
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, is interviewed after qualifying for nationals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, smiles after being interviewed during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, smiles with his putting clubs during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, holds his ticket for qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Leo Vazquez, boys 14-15 group, sets his ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, reacts after his putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, sets his ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Owen Atkinson, boys 14-15 group, sets his ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Riley Grimm, girls 14-15 group, smiles after being interviewed during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Riley Grimm, girls 14-15 group smiles as she receives her ticket to the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Riley Grimm, girls 14-15 group, sets her ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Riley Grimm, girls 14-15 group, examines the green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Riley Grimm, girls 14-15 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Ella June Hannant, girls 14-15 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Arianna Beverly, girls 14-15 group, sets her ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Arianna Beverly, girls 14-15 group, sets her ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison’s mother smiles and records as he wins the first place title during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13 group, holds the ticket after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13 group, shakes hands with The Golf Club of Tennessee President David Ingram during the awards presentation during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The word “drive” is shown on signage during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13, examines the green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13, sets his ball on the green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Gayatri Arora, girls 12-13 group, smiles after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The top three in the girls 12-13 group stand together during the awards ceremony during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. Gayatri Arora (center) places first and qualifies for nationals, while Shambhavi Chaturvedi places second, and Victoria Davis places third.(Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The Masters Logo is shown on golf equipment during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Gayatri Arora, girls 12-13 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Gayatri Arora, girls 12-13 group, sets her ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Gayatri Arora, girls 12-13 group, sets her ball to putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Victoria Davis, girls 12-13 group, reacts after her putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Victoria Davis, girls 12-13 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Victoria Davis, girls 12-13 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Shambhavi Chaturvedi, girls 12-13 group, receives her ball during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Shambhavi Chaturvedi, girls 12-13 group, putts during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Simon Myers, boys 10-11 group, smiles after being interviewed during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Simon Myers, boys 10-11 group, smiles as he receives his ticket to the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24:
“Putt” signage is shown near the putting green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: PGA Tennessee Section signage stands on the putting green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: AddiMae Glover’s golf clubs sit in her bag during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: AddiMae Glover, girls 10-11 group, holds her ticket after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The girls 10-11 group smiles after their podium finish during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. AddiMae Glover (center) places first, qualifying for nationals, while Shelby Wright (right) places second, and Catherine Chen places third (left) (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: “Drive” is shown on signage during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Isabelle Chandler, girls 7-9, is interviewed after winning her category during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Isabelle Chandler, girls 7-9 group, holds her ticket after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Isabelle Chandler, girls 7-9 group, holds her ticket after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Shambhavi Chaturvedi, girls 12-13 group, examines the green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: A golf ball with a design of a soccer ball lands near the target during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
iKINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Maximilian Kosobucki, boys 7-9 group, hits a chip shot during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Berck Phipps, boys 7-9 group, looks on during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Perri Harris, girls 7-9, hits her tee during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The Drive, Chip & Putt flag lays on the green during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: The girls 14-15 group watches the official as he makes a sample putt during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13 group, smiles during an interview after winning his division during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: AddiMae Glover, girls 10-11 group, is interviewed after qualifying for the national finals during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship - The Golf Club of Tennessee
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Berck Phipps, boys 7-9 group, makes a chip shot during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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“What I learned today is that this is hard ... it comes down to nine shots,” Ingram said after following the Girls 12–13 age group as a scorer. “I’m sure it’s special for them to come here, and I think it’s really special for us to have (the tournament) here – for our members to give back to golf and to the juniors, and to play some part in their development.”
After finishing second to her friendly rival Gayatri Arora of Pinehurst, N.C., in the Girls 12-13 group, Chaturvedi will serve as the first alternate and will gladly venture across the world again for another chance to go head-to-head with her peers at Augusta National.
“I hope to return next year,” said the soft-spoken Chaturvedi, who enjoyed the neon lights of downtown Nashville before boarding the first of several plane rides back to India less than 24 hours after her final putt.
I got up to my first drive and my legs were shaking, I had to step back and take a deep breath and then just ripped three down the middle.
Madison Kipp
While Chaturvedi’s hopeful path to Augusta took her across the globe, Kipp Madison, by contrast, will need less than a gallon of fuel to get from his garage to the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. Madison, winner of the Boys 12-13 division and a native of Evans, Ga., lives next to the No. 2 tee box at Westlake Country Club and needs only 15 minutes to drive to Augusta National’s main entrance.
At least four times a week, Madison tees off No. 2 of Westlake soon after his homeschool classes wrap up and plays an entire round. He uses the week’s other three days to fine-tune his game.
“It’s super humid in Georgia, so I need to take care of myself and practice instead of playing on some days,” he said.
The humidity was lower in Kingston Springs, but a touch of nerves may have been hanging around when he started his day under picturesque conditions.
“I got up to my first drive and my legs were shaking, I had to step back and take a deep breath and then just ripped three down the middle,” Madison said. “I did really good on my chips. I made my third, which was right online. My putting wasn’t great, but it got the job done.”
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Kipp Madison, boys 12-13 group, smiles during an interview after winning his division during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
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It will be a familiar trek for the Madison family, as Kipp’s younger brother, Zane, made it to the National Finals two years ago as an 8-year-old.
“Zane did a great job when he played (in previous Drive, Chip and Putt events), but I knew that soon enough it was going to be my time,” the elder Madison said.
The feeling of familiarity was with the Phipps family of Raleigh, N.C., as Berck Phipps competed in the regional qualifier.
To kickstart his time in Nashville, the Boys 7-9 age group winner spent time observing the Vanderbilt men’s golf team practice at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in nearby Franklin, Tenn. Phipps’ father, Andy, lettered for the Commodores at the turn of the century.
“It’s a good school, and I want to go there,” the younger Phipps said of Vanderbilt, also noting that it was a treat meeting the likes of four-time Rolex Junior All-American Jackson Van Paris and 2023 Masters Tournament participant Gordon Sargent. “I know they play a lot of cool courses, and they’re building a new practice facility. They gave me some good tips and gave us some golf balls with the Vanderbilt logo on it. My dad was excited for me to come here because he remembers playing in Nashville.”
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 24: Berck Phipps, boys 7-9 group, makes a chip shot during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at the Golf Club of Tennessee on September 24, 2023 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt
Though Van Paris, who Berck Phipps noted is “really nice, and tall,” competed in Drive, Chip and Putt competitions when he was younger, he never made it to the National Finals in Augusta.
Score one for 9-year-old Phipps.
“It was really cool meeting Berck and his family,” Van Paris said from Birmingham, Ala., where he and the Commodores were preparing for SEC Match Play at Birmingham Country Club. “He is a great kid and has a lot of passion for the game. Berck and his family are super respectful, and I could tell how much he loved golf. I’m wishing him the best of luck in the future.”
Jake Sheffield fell short of defending his regional – and national – crown in the Boys 14-15 division, but the young man from Lenoir City, Tenn., still authored an incredible ending to his Drive, Chip and Putt career.
Sheffield notched a regional-best 75 points in putting – a perfect score – by sinking tries from 6, 15 and 30 feet. Remarkably, Sheffield had buried each of his three putts during regional qualifying in 2022 to help him post a one-point win at Quail Hollow en route to becoming a National Champion.
“It was a good way to go out,” said Sheffield, who placed sixth in his age group. Owen Atkinson of Columbia, S.C., advanced after scoring 155 points.
As Kevin Sheffield, father of flatstick phenom Jake, noted at the end of the day under a setting Tennessee sun, “I told him that no matter what, go shake the winner’s hand and tell him how great of an experience it’s going to be at Augusta National.”
Isabelle Chandler of Cornelius, N.C., posted 106 points to win the Girls 7-9 division. The aspiring veterinarian won the driving and chipping portions of the event on her way to building a 16-point margin of victory in her age group, all while wearing Masters Tournament gear from head to toe, which her mother laid out before the trip to Tennessee. Chandler practices at her home course, the Peninsula Club, and was on hand at Augusta National to see Scottie Scheffler win the Green Jacket in 2022.
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Berck Phipps edged out both Maximilian Kosobucki and Cooper Goodson by two points to win the Boys 7-9 division. He has twice been to Augusta National for the Masters and especially enjoys the barbecue pork sandwiches there. The Raleigh, N.C., resident is a pupil of Ted Kiegiel and Nate Eaton at Carolina Country Club. Phipps’ father, Andy, played college golf for Vanderbilt in the late 1990s.
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AddiMae Glover made her first two chips and left the third six inches from the hole on her way to winning the Girls 10-11 division. The four-time regional qualifier is making her first trip to the National Finals, where she says she can’t wait to step on the 18th green at Augusta National.
The Paris, Tenn., native frequents both Paris Country Club and Paris Landing, and cut short the two-hour drive to Kingston Springs by staying the night with her grandmother, Charlotte Wisdom, in nearby Dixon. Her grandmother prepared a breakfast of fresh fruit to get Glover ready for competition. Glover, a self-proclaimed social butterfly and a fan of Nelly Korda because “she’s my size,” said she was better able to stay focused this year than in previous appearances, resisting the temptation to talk to fellow competitors during the action.
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Simon Myers ran away with the Boys 10-11 title as his 152 points gave him a 23-point cushion over the next-closest competitor. A resident of Durham, N.C., and a member of Treyburn Country Club, Myers met his favorite golfer, Max Homa, during the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. His father, Tim, played golf at Mississippi State. Simon Myers wore an Augusta National polo shirt during his regional win, a gift from his friend and fellow golfer, Simon Hall. At this year’s subregional qualifier, Hall placed third and gifted the shirt to four-time regional qualifier Myers as a good luck charm.
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The Golf Club of Tennessee regional qualifier was the first time Girls 12-13 division winner Gayatri Arora had been away from her German Shepherds, Max and Bruno, for competition.
“I wanted to come back home and tell them that I won,” admitted the Pinehurst, N.C., product. Arora has competed internationally in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and has always been a huge Tiger Woods fan. She attended the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in Augusta each of the past two years to support her friends competing in the event. Before her regional win this year, Arora ate a chocolate muffin before breakfast which gave her body “a lot of support.” Here’s to more chocolate muffins in Augusta.
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Kipp Madison of Evans, Ga., won the Boys 12-13 age group. The homeschooled extrovert told hometown tennis partner, Daniel, before his trip to Tennessee that he was going to win the event. Daniel doubted Madison’s proclamation, but the photo Madison would soon send to Daniel with a first-place medal around his neck proved otherwise. Madison’s younger brother, Zane, qualified for the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at age 8.
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Riley Grimm told Golf Channel after winning the Girls 14-15 division that you “drive for show and putt for dough.” The Pinehurst, N.C., native did both, winning the driving and putting skills on her way to 155 total points and a trip to Augusta National. Grimm, who also likes to paddleboard, began playing golf at age 3 and has competed in Drive, Chip and Putt for seven years. Her personal-best rounds are 69 (as an 11-year-old) at her home course, Pinehurst No. 6, and 62 (as a 13-year-old) at Anderson Creek Club. Grimm won the AJGA’s TaylorMade Preview at Anderson Creek Club in April.
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Owen Atkinson held on to win the Boys 14-15 age group title by one point in the closest contest of the day. Atkinson, who wore a Masters Tournament hat, made his first two putts and lagged his third (which he said was “nerve-racking”) close enough for the win. Even though the Columbia, S.C., native relied on his putting to punch his ticket to Augusta, he changed his putting grip – and putter! – the morning of the regional competition.
Atkinson, a right-handed player, admires Jordan Spieth and often replicates the Masters Tournament champion’s cross-handed grip and Scotty Cameron blade combination. With the stakes at their highest, Atkinson calmly went with his grandfather’s mallet putter and a traditional grip to help lock down the win. “I switch it up every once in a while, depending on how I’m feeling,” said Atkinson. “I’ll be back to left-hand low in about a week.”
