b'CHIP SHOTSNiuniu Lauren andZhaoLauryn invited to ANWATwo past PNGA Players of the YearLauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Lauryn Nguyen of Seattlehave received a coveted invitation to play in the 2024 Augusta National Womens Amateur (ANWA).Connor In 2023, Kim earned theDrive, Chip &Holdenrare distinction of being namedPutt FinalsFinallythe Player of the Year in two categories, Womens and JuniorAt a regional qualifier held at Chambers Bay Girls, which hadnt happenedin University Place, Wash. in September of Lauren Kim since 2008. She is the reigning2023, Niuniu Zhao of Woodinville, Wash., Max Canadian Womens AmateurSoterakopoulos of Everett, Wash., and Connor champion, and is now a freshmanHolden of Canby, Ore. all qualified for the 10th on the University of Texasannual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, to be womens golf team. held at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2024, Nguyen was named Womensprior to the start of the 88th Masters Tournament. Player of the Year in 2022. NowZhao was runner-up in last years qualifier, a junior on the Northwesternbut advanced this year by winning the Girls 12-13 University womens golf team, shedivision. She has won several WJGA events, and was named Big 10 Freshman ofqualified for the 2013 U.S. Girls Junior.the Year, and First Team All-Big 10In his third year of trying, in her sophomore year.Soterakopoulos won the Boys The championship will be7-9 division. Holden, who held April 3-6, and features anwon four Oregon Junior Golf international field of 72 womentitles last summer, won the amateurs who compete overBoys 14-15 division. 54 holes of stroke play, with theConducted in final round being held at Augustapartnership with the USGA, Lauryn Nguyen National Golf Club on Saturdaythe Masters Tournament and prior to the start of Masters Week.the PGA of America, Drive, ChipMax SoterakopoulosFirst held in 2019, the ANWAand Putt is a free, nationwide youth was established to inspire greatergolf development program open to boys and girls, interest and participation in theages 7-15, in four age divisions. The three-pronged womens game by creating a new,competition tests the skills essential to playing the exciting and rewarding pathwaygameaccuracy in driving, chipping and putting.for these players to fulfill theirAll qualifiers are conducted by the PGA dreams. Visit anwagolf.com forof America. For more information, visit more information.DriveChipandPutt.com.10 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER| MAR 2024'