Drive, Chip And Putt Regional Champions Earn Invitations To National Finals At Augusta National Golf Club

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Eighty junior golfers representing 27 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces have earned an invitation to Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the sixth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, to be played on Sunday, April 7, 2019, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.

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. The three-pronged competition tests the skills essential to playing the game – accuracy in driving, chipping and putting.

Results of the 10 regional qualifiers – the third and final stage leading to the 2019 National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club – yielded 15 returning competitors, including impressive four-time finalists Megha Ganne, Treed Huang and Vanessa Borovilos. Returning finalists are:

  • Vanessa Borovilos (2018 Girls 10-11 National Champion and 2016, 2015 National Finalist), of Toronto, Ontario
  • Caitlyn Chin (2016 National Finalist), of Greenwood Village, Colo.
  • Megha Ganne (2018, 2017 and 2015 National Finalist), of Holmdel, N.J.
  • Nolan Haynes (2016, 2014 National Finalist), of Barberton, Ohio
  • Maye Huang (2017 Girls 7-9 National Champion), of Katy, Texas
  • Treed Huang (2018, 2017 National Finalist and 2014 Boys 7-9 National Champion), of Katy, Texas
  • Sara Im (2018 Girls 12-13 National Champion), of Duluth, Ga.
  • Jay Leng, Jr. (2015 Boys 7-9 National Champion), of La Jolla, Calif.
  • Patmon Malcom, Jr. (2018 National Finalist), of Alpharetta, Ga.
  • Kasey Maralack (2018 National Finalist), of Snoqualmie, Wash.
  • PJ Maybank (2018 Boys 12-13 National Champion), of Cheboygan, Mich.
  • Julia Misemer (2015 National Finalist), of Overland Park, Kan.
  • Madilyn Newman (2017 National Finalist), of Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Sahish Reddy (2018 National Finalist), of Duluth, Ga.
  • Kathryn VanArragon (2016 National Finalist), of Blaine, Minn.

 

Local qualifying for the sixth season began in May and was held at 290 sites throughout all 50 states this summer. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys and girls divisions, advanced to 57 subregional qualifiers in July and August. Two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September, held at some of the top courses in the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

The top finisher from each regional site’s age/gender divisions – a total of 80 finalists – earned a place in the National Finals, which will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel. All local, subregional and regional qualifiers were conducted by the 41 Sections of the PGA of America, with PGA Professionals providing support at each facility hosting a qualifier.

Notes from Regional Qualifying:

  • After posting identical scores of 141 at the end of the regional qualifier at Whistling Straits Golf Course (2004, 2010, 2015 PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup host), Sarah Balding edged friend Shannyn Vogler to win the Girls 14-15 division in a playoff. Balding, whose sister is a collegiate golfer at DePauw University said, “It was nerve-wracking but there are little things I tell myself that my sister taught me to help me calm down.” In the Boys 10-11 division, Ryder Carlson punched his ticket to the National Finals with a score of 109, edging out the rest of his division by three points. According to his father, Ryan Carlson, Ryder was named after the Ryder Cup.
  • Paige Radebach first picked up a golf club less than a year ago, but that didn’t stop her from winning the Girls 7-9 division by 10 points at Muirfield Village Golf Club (site of the Memorial Tournament). “My full name is Paige Alexandria Radebach, so my initials are PAR,” she said. “I was born to play golf.” PJ Maybank returns to Augusta National after winning last year’s Boys 12-13 national title. A dominating performance in the putting competition resulted in 70 points in the skill and a place atop the Boys 12-13 regional division. He credits the good play to his superstition of wearing two different colored shoes for good luck.
  • Angela Zhang won the Girls 7-9 division at Chambers Bay Golf Course (2015 U.S. Open Championship host), hitting a 215-yard drive en route to posting a final score of 120. Earlier this year, she received an ‘A’ in school for her drawing of Augusta National’s 12th hole, Golden Bell. Now, she’ll have a chance to see the hole in person for the first time this April. After rolling his 30-foot putt next to the cup, Ian Bruchhauser won the Boys 14-15 division with 140 points, making him Alaska’s first National Finalist. Due to cold, wintry conditions in Alaska, Bruchhauser only has two-and-a-half months of outdoor practice time at his home course.
  • After a 142-point performance in the regional qualifier at Congressional Country Club (2011 U.S. Open Championship host), Megha Ganne won the Girls 14-15 division to become a four-time National Finalist. “It never gets old,” she said. “I wish there was no age limit. This is my last year, and I’m really excited to be going back.” In the Boys 12-13 division, Matthew Vital advanced to the National Finals in his first trip to regional qualifying and his fourth overall attempt in Drive, Chip and Putt. “I’m looking forward to being there,” he said. “It looks like such a cool place on TV.”
  • After stellar performances in the regional qualifier at The Club at Carlton Woods (site of the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship), both Maye and Treed Huang will make return trips to Augusta not only as National Finalists and Drive, Chip and Putt champions, but also as sister and brother. Maye Huang, the 2017 Girls 7-9 National Champion, won the Girls 10-11 division to secure her second appearance in the National Finals. Older brother Treed Huang, the 2014 Boys 7-9 National Champion and 2017 and 2018 National Finalist, will make his record-tying fourth trip to the National Finals after winning the Boys 14-15 division by three points. The Huang siblings have advanced to Augusta National together once before, previously in 2017. “[Maye] is a big factor in my game, to have someone to practice with every day,” Treed said. “We compete a lot and that brings each of our games to a higher level.”
  • On Victoria Kuranga’s fourth attempt to reach the National Finals, the 13-year-old’s dream became reality at The Honors Course (site of the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship) with an 11-point win in the Girls 12-13 division. She’s hoping to bring back a Tiger Woods autograph from Augusta. Matthew Troutman, winner of the Boys 14-15 division, scored 179 total points to qualify for his first National Finals. He is coached by PGA professional Mike Thomas, father of 2017 PGA Championship winner and PGA Tour Player of the Year Justin Thomas.
  • Milan Norton edged the competition by four points to win the Girls 7-9 division at Torrey Pines Golf Course (2008 and 2021 U.S. Open Championship host). She claims her “Best Day Ever” socks helped provide the luck needed to reach Augusta National. “I knew it was going to be the best day ever when I put on the socks,” said Norton. Jay Leng, Jr., winner of the Boys 12-13 division, will make a return appearance to the National Finals. Needing to make a 30-foot putt to advance, Leng drained the putt to win by a point, finishing with the day’s top score (157 points). The putt was reminiscent of the one he made in a playoff at the 2015 National Finals to win the Boys 7-9 division.
  • Vanessa Borovilos claimed a 20-point victory in the Girls 12-13 division at Winged Foot Golf Club (2006 and 2020 U.S. Open Championship host) to qualify for the National Finals for the fourth time. She will attempt to win back-to-back championships after winning the 2018 Girls 10-11 national title a year ago. Carter Lavigne, winner of the regional Boys 7-9 division, traveled nearly 700 miles from New Brunswick, Canada, to compete in the regional qualifier. He started playing mini-golf at age 2, regular golf at age 4 and, by age 6, beat his dad for the first time. “People don’t ask [who beat who] anymore,” said dad Darsey Lavigne.
  • At last year’s National Finals, Kate Barber attended as a patron. After winning the Girls 12-13 division at TPC Sawgrass (site of The Players), she’ll be bringing her golf clubs to Augusta National this year. “The first thing I’m going to do when I get to Augusta National is eat an egg salad sandwich,” she said. Ryan Nana Tanke gave up a ticket to the Ryder Cup in Paris to compete in the Boys 7-9 division, but the gamble paid off with a win and an invitation to the National Finals.  Nana Tanke lives mostly in Paris, but spends two months annually in Florida, where he is coached by PGA Master Professional Warren Bottke, who first taught the game to two-time U.S. Open champion, PGA Championship winner and Ryder Cup participant Brooks Koepka.
  • Julia Misemer, four years removed from an appearance in the 2015 National Finals, will return to Augusta National after winning the Girls 14-15 division at Bellerive Country Club (2018 PGA Championship host). She won her division by 43 points, hitting two drives more than 260 yards and making putts of six and 30 feet. Isaac Rumler needed a 30-foot putt to win the Boys 10-11 division and advance to his first-ever National Finals. With the pressure on, he calmly made the putt to claim the victory by two points. “I want to see the pros first,” he said. “Hopefully I will meet some.”

All championship scoring at the local, subregional and regional qualifiers is based on a 25-point-per-shot basis, with each participant taking three shots per skill. Each participant accumulated points per shot in all three skills (maximum of 75 points per skill = 25 points per shot x 3). The overall winner in each age category was determined by the participant with the most points accumulated between all three skills (maximum of 225 points = 75 points per skill x 3).

For each skill, the point system is based in incremental distance measurements, rewarding accuracy and distance in the drive skill, and proximity for chipping and putting skills. Difficulty increases with age.

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.

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REGIONAL QUALIFYING RESULTS

Qualifying sites:

 

Date                      Host Site                                                            City, State

Sept. 8                  Whistling Straits Golf Course                      Sheboygan, Wis.                                                              

Sept. 8                  Muirfield Village Golf Club                           Dublin, Ohio

Sept. 9                  Chambers Bay Golf Course                        University Place, Wash.

Sept. 9                  Congressional Country Club                       Bethesda, Md.

Sept. 16                The Club at Carlton Woods                         The Woodlands, Texas

Sept. 16                The Honors Course                                     Ooltewah, Tenn.

Sept. 22                Torrey Pines Golf Course                            San Diego, Calif.

Sept. 23                Winged Foot Golf Club                                Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sept. 29                TPC Sawgrass                                             Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Sept. 29                Bellerive Country Club                                 St. Louis, Mo.

 

Qualifying results:

Girls 7-9

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Lilian She                           82               Buffalo Grove                Illinois                               Whistling Straits

Paige Radebach                81               Webberville                   Michigan                           Muirfield Village

Angela Zhang                   120              Bellevue                       Washington                       Chambers Bay

Mckenzie Mueller              87               Wake Forest                 North Carolina                  Congressional CC

Sophia Giga                      104             Frisco                           Texas                                The Club at Carlton Woods

Gabriella Moorehead        74              Burlington                      North Carolina                  The Honors Course

Milan Norton                     102            Las Vegas                     Nevada                             Torrey Pines

Alexandra Phung              87             Forest Hills                    New York                          Winged Foot Golf Club

Briel Royce                      105            Lake Nona                    Florida                               TPC Sawgrass 

Taya Belloma                   86             Centerville                      Iowa                                  Bellerive Country Club

 

Girls 10-11

Name                                 Points               City                              State/Province                          Regional

Bella Leonhart                   137             Marine on St. Croix              Minnesota                               Whistling Straits

Beka Yang                         96               Sylvania                               Ohio                                        Muirfield Village

Anna Jiaxin Huang            138             Vancouver                            British Columbia                     Chambers Bay

Ellen Yu                             106             High Point                            North Carolina                        Congressional CC

Maye Huang                      128             Katy                                     Texas                                       The Club at Carlton Woods

Elle Marie Reisner             109            Atlanta                                  Georgia                                    The Honors Course

Alexis Vakasiuola              130            San Tan Valley                      Arizona                                     Torrey Pines

Sophia Li                           123            Fresh Meadows                    New York                                  Winged Foot Golf Club

Ariana Silva                       115            Sunrise                                 Florida                                        TPC Sawgrass 

Caitlyn Chin                       115           Greenwood Village               Colorado                                     Bellerive Country Club

 

Girls 12-13

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Kathryn VanArragon           139                  Blaine                     Minnesota                          Whistling Straits

Sophie Stevens                  120                  Novi                        Michigan                           Muirfield Village

Yana Wilson                       134              Henderson                  Nevada                             Chambers Bay

Sydney Yermish                 132             Wynnewood                 Pennsylvania                   Congressional CC

Ava McGoey                      140             Metairie                        Louisiana                          The Club at Carlton Woods

Victoria Kuranga                138             Decatur                       Georgia                              The Honors Course

Mia Cepeda                       145            Kaawa                          Hawaii                                Torrey Pines

Vanessa Borovilos            125             Toronoto                       Ontario                              Winged Foot Golf Club

Kate Barber                      120            Savannah                      Georgia                             TPC Sawgrass

Chunya Boonta                131            Centennial                     Colorado                           Bellerive Country Club

 

Girls 14-15

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Sarah Balding                      141               Brookfield                 Wisconsin                              Whistling Straits

Madilyn Newman                 114               Knoxville                   Tennessee                            Muirfield Village

Kasey Maralack                   150              Snoqualmie               Washington                          Chambers Bay

Megha Ganne                     142               Holmdel                    New Jersey                          Congressional CC

Ryan Ko                              120               Plano                        Texas                                   The Club at Carlton Woods

Sara Im                               139               Duluth                       Georgia                                The Honors Course

Emiko Sverduk                   151               Long Beach              California                             Torrey Pines

Nicole Gal                          146               Oakville                     Ontario                                Winged Foot Golf Club

Talia Rodino                      148               Fort Myers                 Florida                                  TPC Sawgrass 

Julia Misemer                   142               Overland Park           Kansas                                  Bellerive Country Club

 

Boys 7-9

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Luciano Giangrossi              126               Evanston                     Illinois                                Whistling Straits

Michael Quallich                   83                Pittsburgh                    Pennsylvania                      Muirfield Village

Maverick Stocker                 114               Everett                         Washington                        Chambers Bay

Rayhao Feng                       129              Short Hills                    New Jersey                         Congressional CC

Chase Hughes                     106              Oklahoma City             Oklahoma                            The Club at Carlton Woods

Conner Ford                        124               Mount Vernon              Kentucky                              The Honors Course

Benny Nelson                      123               Los Angeles                California                              Torrey Pines

Carter Lavigne                    108               Moncton                       New Brunswick                     Winged Foot Golf Club

Ryan Nana Tanke               116               Palm Beach Gardens   Florida                                   TPC Sawgrass 

Grady Ortiz                         104               Colorado Springs          Colorado                               Bellerive Country Club

 

Boys 10-11

Name                                 Points             City                    State/Province                          Regional

Ryder Carlson                    109              Minnetonka                 Minnesota                        Whistling Straits

Sahish Reddy                     112             Duluth                          Georgia                           Muirfield Village

Aiden Tiet                           121            Milpitas                         California                        Chambers Bay

Mihir Roperia                      131           Cranbury                       New Jersey                    Congressional CC

Aadi Parmar                       131           Selma                            Texas                             The Club at Carlton Woods

Patmon Malcom Jr.            131           Alpharetta                      Georgia                          The Honors Course

Ryder Rasmussen             151           San Juan Capistrano     California                        Torrey Pines

Andy Mac                           141          Candiac                         Quebec                            Winged Foot Golf Club

Bryson Hughes                  160           St. Johns                      Florida                               TPC Sawgrass 

Isaac Rumler                     126           Silvis                             Illinois                                 Bellerive Country Club

 

Boys 12-13

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Joseph Luchtenburg           139               West Chicago              Illinois                               Whistling Straits

PJ Maybank                       119               Cheboygan                  Michigan                           Muirfield Village

Jonathan Miller                  147               Roseville                     California                          Chambers Bay

Matthew Vital                     141               Bethlehem                Pennsylvania                     Congressional CC

Ryder Cowan                    133               Edmond                      Oklahoma                        The Club at Carlton Woods

Hudson Wilt                      153              Nashville                     Tennessee                        The Honors Course

Jay Leng, Jr.                    157               La Jolla                       California                           Torrey Pines

James Bradley                139              East Hampton              New York                          Winged Foot Golf Club

Garret Ebbert                 155               Longwood                    Florida                               TPC Sawgrass 

John Guerra                   132              St. Louis                       Missouri                             Bellerive Country Club

 

Boys 14-15

Name                                 Points               City                    State/Province                          Regional

Joshua Pehl                        155              Sugar Grove               Illinois                               Whistling Straits

Nolan Haynes                     133              Barberton                    Ohio                                Muirfield Village

Ian Bruchhauser                 140              Anchorage                  Alaska                             Chambers Bay

Nathan Drogin                    137             Essex Falls                  New Jersey                      Congressional CC

Treed Huang                      150              Katy                            Texas                                The Club at Carlton Woods

Matthew Troutman             179              Louisville                     Kentucky                          The Honors Course

Tyler Kowack                     153             San Diego                    California                           Torrey Pines

Owen Walsh                      147             Katonah                        New York                          Winged Foot Golf Club

Andrew McLauchlan         145             Neptune Beach             Florida                               TPC Sawgrass 

Alec Cesare                      168             Westfield                       Indiana                              Bellerive Country Club

About Drive, Chip and Putt

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, USGA and the PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, Drive, Chip and Putt provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, subregional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and broadcast live by Golf Channel. For more information, please visit: www.DriveChipandPutt.com.

About the Masters Tournament

The Masters Tournament Foundation, inspired by the enduring philosophies of Masters Tournament founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is committed to promoting golf’s domestic and international development through financial investment and active participation in initiatives aimed at preserving the traditions of the game and sharing its many virtues.

The Masters Tournament – since its very beginning – strives to provide added exposure to the game of golf and inspire interest in the sport worldwide. For more information about the Masters, visit masters.com.

About the USGA

The USGA celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment and amateur status rules. Our operating jurisdiction for these governance functions is the United States, its territories and Mexico. The USGA Handicap System is utilized in more than 40 countries and our Course Rating System covers 95 percent of the world’s golf courses, enabling all golfers to play on an equitable basis. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

For further information: Janeen Driscoll, USGA Director of Communications jdriscoll@usga.org; 910-690-9711