The Sunday prior to the Masters Tournament is national finals of the Drive, Chip & Put competition, and in its short history it has become a must-watch tradition for golf fans. The 80 competitors range in age from 7 to 15, and all qualified by winning sub-regional and regional competitions.
Each competitor hits two drives (with the best one counting towards their ranking), two chips (with the cumulative distance from the hole counting towards their ranking), and two putts (on the 18th green of Augusta National Golf Club with the cumulative distance from the hole counting towards their ranking). Each competitor is awarded points based on their rank in each discipline, 10 points for first, down to 1 point for 10th, and the one with the most points over the 3 events is the winner.
Division | Winner | Points (D-C-P) |
---|---|---|
Boys 7-9 | Hudson Knapp | 22 (7-6-9) |
Girls 7-9 | Autumn Solesbee | 26 (7-10-9) |
Boys 10-11 | Bentley Coon | 24.5 (10-9-5.5) |
Girls 10-11 | Kylie Chung | 18 (5-3-10) |
Boys 12-13 | Michael Jorski | 21 (3-8-10)* |
Girls 12-13 | Jenna Kim | 26 (9-9-8) |
Boys 14-15 | Jaden Dumdumaya | 29 (10-9-10) |
Girls 14-15 | Mia Hammond | 28 (9-9-10) |
* indicates playoff
Here is Jaden Dumdumaya clinching the win for the 14-15 year old boys:
The fist pump. The winning embrace.
THIS is what it's all about. #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/GqlogXKGNi
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 3, 2022
There are lots of great stories among the competitors, girls 7-9 year old winner Autumn Solesbee being one of the best
I’m not crying, you’re crying! LOVE the father-daughter moment between Autumn Solesbee & her dad after she won the Girls 7-9 @DriveChipPutt at Augusta National. She was adopted 2 years ago, her dad introduced her to golf & it was a way she bonded w/ her family. #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/DK5XWY0zqW
— Amanda Blumenherst (@blumenherstFry) April 3, 2022
Huntersville representing in the #DriveChipandPutt https://t.co/euWwIRGvND
— Jordan (@filosophizer_) April 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/DriveChipPutt/status/1510629178445602819
Michael Jorski came from way back, with some great putts, to win the boys 12-13 in a playoff.
https://twitter.com/GolfChannel/status/1510629540606918660
And girls 10-11 winner Kylie Chung, when asked how it feels to win “I feel like I’m (long pause) amazing!”
https://twitter.com/GolfChannel/status/1510635190196092930
"I feel like I'm … AMAZING 😀" #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/bPAsGnZUwT
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 3, 2022
Ohio’s Emerson Roychoudhury had a great segment on her which featured her connection to a golfing legend.
For 2022 @DriveChipPutt National Finalist, Emerson Roychoudhury, learning the game began with the words of @JackNicklaus. #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/A1YvI3gnz2
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 3, 2022
Thumbs up if you're a National Champion! 👍
Hudson Knapp captures the title for the Boys ages 7-9 division. 😃@DriveChipPutt | #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/TrGcxk2r1v
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 3, 2022
Ella Walsh and Mia Hammond both made both of their putts in the girls 14-15 division. Hammond won a putt-off.
SHE MADE BOTH PUTTS!
13-year-old Ella Walsh's first two putts EVER on Augusta National's 18th green go in at @DriveChipPutt! #DriveChipandPutt
📺: GOLF
💻 : https://t.co/jZo0R46mJA pic.twitter.com/FWuaRMfnTD— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 3, 2022
She made 'em BOTH 💥💥
An epic finish for Mia Hammond to win the Girls 14-15 Age Division #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/h97NpVjFKC
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 3, 2022
And here are the champions