“It’s an amazing experience for these kids,” said Rich Lerner. “To have their names on the leader- board at Augusta, just like Nicklaus, Palmer, Hogan and Woods, is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.” June 2017 | 17 Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net Staged in combination by the Masters Tourna- ment, PGA of America and the USGA, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free youth golf development program open to girls and boys nationwide. It is conducted in four age categories, for golfers 7- to 15-years-old. Tens of thousands of young golfers had the op- portunity to qualify for the finals competition this year, through a series of local qualifying events. Playing at some of the most iconic golf courses in the country, they advanced through four qualifying stages. This year, Junior Golf had the privilege of at- tending the exciting Finals and of document- ing the hard-fought competitions. In the end, eight junior golfers – four boys and four girls – emerged victorious in their age categories. For many in attendance, it was surely a weekend that will always be stored among their most cherished memories. WALKING ON HALLOWED GROUND To set foot on the premises of Augusta Nation- al is an almost out-of-body experience in itself. And to be there during the heat of competition, with the Masters coming in the following week, added even more drama to the setting. Incred- ibly, with all of the build-up and pressure that the weekend brought, the competing juniors performed with amazing composure and skill. Seriously, does any other junior event com- pare? The closest analogy would be a Little League baseball team playing a champion- ship game on the diamond at Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field. And while football has the Punt, Pass and Kick contest, there is no five- hour televised coverage of the Finals, as there was at Augusta. While at the event, we had the pleasure of sit- ting down with Rich Lerner, well-known Golf Channel play-by-play host for the PGA Tour’s tournament broadcasts, and the host voice for Drive, Chip and Putt. He was equally im- pressed by the performances. “It’s an amazing experience for these kids,” said Lerner. “To have their names on the leaderboard at Augusta, just like Nicklaus, Palmer, Hogan and Woods, is a once-in-a- lifetime moment. It’s truly inspiring for them, and Augusta is the pinnacle. But they also get to qualify on legendary courses like Oakmont, Medinah, Riviera and TPC Sawgrass. There’s nothing quite like it in all of sports, and they really have risen to the occasion.” THE COMPETITION HEATS UP The day before the big event, competitors gathered at the local River Golf Club to prac- tice. For those from northern climates, this was a welcome occasion to play on natural grass surfaces, something many of the partic- Lyla Louderbaugh aims for the cup ipants hadn’t seen since last fall. In fact, the warm spring temperatures had everyone in a happy mood, as many of the kids gathered on the practice putting green for fun, creatively conceived challenges. It was a great day for making new friends, although by 4:00 p.m. the players were back at the hotel, preparing for the evening dinner hosted by Augusta Nation- al Chairman Billy Payne. The next day, Sunday, broke bright and early and it was time to get down to the business at hand. Points were awarded in each of the three individual skill categories, with the winner re- ceiving 10 points, runner-up getting 9 points, third netting 8 points and so on down the line. The player with the most cumulative points af- ter all three events were totaled was declared the overall winner of the age group. Continued to page 18 Cavan Jones rips into a tee shot