Once-in-a-lifetime Moment at Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals

For returnees and newcomers alike, alternative awaits within the twelfth Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

Eighty members will attend Sunday morning at Augusta National Golf Club to compete in 4 age divisions. More than 850 boys and ladies ages 7 to fifteen years outdated have superior to the National Finals because the inaugural occasion in 2014. The occasion can be televised from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

This 12 months’s subject is comprised of golfers from 34 states and the Canadian province of Ontario who superior via three qualifying phases concluding with 10 regional websites, the place berths within the National Finals had been secured.

“I’m just excited to go down Magnolia Lane again,” mentioned Kipp Madison of Augusta, Ga., certainly one of 12 returning opponents, which is twice as many as final 12 months.

The Boys 12-13 National Champion in 2024 – and the primary from the Augusta space to win within the ultimate stage – Madison (Boys 14-15) is joined within the subject by three different Drive, Chip and Putt National Champions: Texas Terry of Manor, Texas; Karis Reid of Carmel, Ind.; and Dawson Dial of Cedar Park, Texas.

“It’s great just to know that I’m going to have that experience again and have a great time no matter what happens,” mentioned Dial, who received Boys 10-11 in 2025 and is competing in Boys 12-13 this 12 months.

Having competed at Augusta National performed a task final 12 months, with two returning finalists among the many eight age-group winners.

In distinction to the dozen younger individuals who have gone via competing at the house of the Masters Tournament, the place the ninetieth version will start on Thursday, for a lot of the subject it will likely be a brand new expertise.

Hallie Fisch of Suamico, Wis., (Girls 12-13) made it to the National Finals on her fourth try, profitable the Whistling Straits Regional by 17 factors.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” Fisch mentioned. “There were so many good girls and I’m the one that gets to go. It means a lot. I really wanted to go to Augusta. I don’t like being in front of the cameras, but I’m going to be excited to go. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

It’s additionally the fourth time National Finalist Shepherd Cedar Choi of Westminster, Colo., (Girls 10-11) entered Drive, Chip and Putt. She received the Hazeltine National Golf Club Regional to advance after coming oh-so-close twice.

“I had gotten second place the past two years in the regional qualifiers,” Choi mentioned. “It caused so many tears, but to finally make it this year is my greatest moment.”

Ziqing Wang of San Jose, Calif., (Girls 14-15) additionally achieved her long-standing aim of qualifying to compete at Augusta National. A Drive, Chip and Putt participant since age 9, she’s going to see if her favourite golf accent, a four-leaf clover ball marker, will deliver her good luck at the National Finals.

A joint initiative based in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, USGA and PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free nationwide junior golf improvement program specializing in three basic abilities in golf.

Local qualifying for the twelfth season of Drive, Chip and Putt started final May and befell at a whole bunch of web sites throughout the nation. The high three scorers per venue, in every of the 4 age classes in separate boys and ladies divisions, superior to subregional qualifiers in July and August. The high two juniors in every age/gender division then competed at 10 regional websites for an opportunity to advance to Augusta National, the place the three-pronged ability competitors concludes on the 18th inexperienced, generally in dramatic vogue.

In 2025, every week earlier than an emotional Rory McIlroy received the Masters to finish the Career Grand Slam on No. 18, the placing floor was residence to drama within the Drive, Chip and Putt. Hudson Justus trailed Nicklaus Miller after two disciplines then sank putts of 30 and 15 ft. After the grandson of Hall of Famer Johnny Miller grazed the cup on his 15-footer, Justus had a one-point victory.

Justus was the eighth participant in DCP historical past to sink each putts, a feat this 12 months’s crop of junior golfers can be making an attempt to duplicate as they search to make some historical past of their very own.