Northwest players advance to Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta National

Four young golfers from the Northwest earned invitations to compete in the eighth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, to be played at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3, 2022, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.

The four Northwest players to advance are Kaylie Bae of Happy Valley, Ore. (Girls 7-9 division), Chloe Singpraseuth of Meridian, Idaho (Girls 14-15 division), Carter Macy of Meridian, Idaho (Boys 7-9 division), and Owen Greenough of Bend, Ore. (Boys 12-13 division). All four players competed at the regional qualifier held at Pebble Beach Golf Club.

This was the third and final stage leading to the 2022 National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. In all, 80 junior golfers representing 30 U.S. states will be competing in the Finals.

Carter Macy had an eighth birthday he’ll never forget. He earned his invitation to the National Finals after edging out the second-place finisher by one point overall.

Kaylie Bae also became a National Finalist for the first time. Although she picked up the game just 18 months ago, she won the Girls 7-9 division by a 20-point margin and aspires to play golf professionally one day.

Chloe Singpraseuth won her division by eight points over her nearest competitor, while Owen Greenough also won his division by eight points.

Local qualifying for the eighth season of Drive, Chip and Putt began in May 2021 and was held at hundreds of sites across the country this summer. The top three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys and girls divisions, advanced to subregional qualifiers in July and August. The top two juniors in each age/gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October. Regional qualifying was held at 10 courses around the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

All scoring at the local, subregional and regional qualifiers was 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 across 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.

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.

The top finishers from each regional site’s age/gender divisions earned a place in the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, which will be broadcast live on 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.

About Drive, Chip and Putt

Conducted in partnership with the USGA, Masters Tournament and PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free youth golf development program that welcomes boys and girls, ages 7-15, to play the game and master the three most important skills for success – accuracy in driving, chipping and putting. The program is available in all 50 states and set on courses in both small and large communities. Visit DriveChipandPutt.com for more information.