b'CHIP SHOTSFrom Apples to AugustaShane Strickland lived with his grandparents in Wenatchee, Wash. for a few years. At the age of three, his grandfather made for him a makeshift club out of a PVC pipe with a 90-degree elbow as the club face, and some used medical tape for the grip. Shane would spend hours in the backyard hitting apples. When he was introduced to golf on a real course at age four, he would walk a couple holes and then take a nap in the cart for a couple holes.In 2021, Shanes grandparents became members at Highlander Golf Club in East Wenatchee, and he joined the First Tee program. Although Shane, at the age of five, was too young at the time to officially join the program, he was allowed to participate in weekly practices because of his advanced ability. Once he turned six, he joined the program and played in the Seattle and Spokane tours for the next two years. His parents recently moved to North Carolina where he joined the local First Tee program and continued to play golf in that area. Shane competed in a regional Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier in Tennessee, where he won his age group, punching his ticket to compete at the National Finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt, to be held at Augusta National on April 6. Who would have guessed that hitting apples in the backyard would lead to Augusta.Registration Now Open for Drive, Chip and Putt QualifiersRegistration for 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying is now open on DriveChipandPutt.com. The annual event is conducted by the USGA, Masters Tournament, and PGA of America. This year will mark the 12th season of qualifying events for boys and girls ages 7-15. The free program, which can be accessed in all 50 states, aims to provide a welcoming environment for youth to participate in golf and focus on the games three fundamental skills.Local qualifying begins May 2 at 357 sites nationwide and will continue throughout the summer. Participants are grouped in separate girls and boys divisions in four age categories, with scoring centered around skill performance in driving, chipping and putting.8 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2025'