AUGUSTA, Ga. – Eight junior golfers – four boys and four girls – were crowned champions at the fifth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals held Sunday, April 1, at Augusta National Golf Club and broadcast live on Golf Channel.
Conducted in partnership between 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 categories.
Tens of thousands of youngsters had the opportunity to qualify for the event, which began with 268 local qualifiers at courses across all 50 states last summer. From there, the top finishers advanced through 53 subregionals to one of 10 regional qualifiers at some of the nation’s most acclaimed venues and championship sites. Finally, the 80 winners across the four age divisions earned a trip to Augusta National Golf Club to participate in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on the eve of the 2018 Masters Tournament.
“All of us at Augusta National are focused on the future of golf, and this event remains one of the most meaningful endeavors in the history of our Club,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “Our goal here is to inspire a lifelong passion for the game of golf, and if our participation helps, then we’ve accomplished our mission. I would like to say how inspired we all are by each and every one of these kids, and I’m pretty confident that the game of golf has a great future.”
Jay Nimmo from Benton tied for third in the boys age 14-15 division and Trinity Beth from Calvert City placed eighth in the girls age 10-11 division.
The four female champions were: Ella June Hannant of Pikeville, N.C. (ages 7-9); Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto, Ontario (ages 10-11); Sara Im of Duluth, Ga. (ages 12-13); Katherine Schuster of Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (ages 14-15).
The four male champions were: Taighan Chea of Bothell, Wash. (ages 7-9); Tip Price of Greenville, S.C. (ages 10-11); PJ Maybank III of Cheboygan, Mich. (ages 12-13); Brendan Valdes of Orlando, Fla. (ages 14-15).
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