No foolin’ on April 1, two boys and two girls from Michigan will compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Championship (DCP) at Augusta National Golf Club to kick off Masters week. All four won their age and gender divisions in the regional qualifier at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio in September.
The competition has grown in popularity and has become an annual staple on the Golf Channel, with many professional golfers like Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth coming by to cheer on the youth and hand out trophies. Augusta National developed the competition in 2013 with the PGA of America and the USGA to spur interest in golf among youth using the three fundamental skills in golf.
More information can be found at: www.drivechipandputt.com
Georgia Bosart, Clarkston, age 11:
Georgia is a basketball point guard on a traveling team the North Oakland Wolfpack, but took up golf as a family summer activity, where they live, at Oakhurst Golf and CC. She won
at the district level in her first try at age 9 after tagging along to DCP with her dad and older brother. She likes watching Fixer Upper on TV, says Jordan Spieth is her favorite golfer and she has already broken 90 for 18 holes.
“When she hit the regional final (at Muirfield), she was flat out in the zone, like I have never seen. It was so much fun to watch,” said her father, Robert.
͞”It was such an exciting time to see her compete and win. We want her to do well at Augusta, but we don’t need anything more than for her to just show up; just being there will be awesome.”
͟Allison Cui, Okemos, age 13:
Allison has already made the most of a young career by winning the girls 13-15 age division of the GAM Junior Stroke Play Championship last summer and the 12 & under division in 2015. She says Stacy Lewis is the coolest player in golf because, she works hard and has a great attitude, adding that she’s a great person on and off the course.
Allison plays no less than five sports including volleyball, track, tennis and soccer, and first tried golf at age 6 when her father taught her how to putt. Outside of golf and athletics she enjoys drawing, reading and playing the piano and violin. She said driving is her strongest golf skill.
Josh Lavely, Kewadin, age 14:
Josh said he has never watched the Drive, Chip and Putt on television, but this spring he will be front and center in the action in his first-ever trip to Augusta.
“In Drive, Chip and Putt it’s all about putting, you can score the most points; and in golf you make can make up more ground with good putting,” said the current 8th-grader who plans to attend Elk Rapids High next school year.
During the golf season Josh plays about five rounds per week and has scored a low 18-hole round of 71. His dream foursome is Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Jason Day.
“They are my favorite people,” he said. “I follow them on social media and I like to hear about them.”
PJ Maybank, Cheboygan, age 12:
PJ (Peter James) is making his second trip to Augusta after qualifying in 2015. Since that time, he has studied the history of golf more intently and has read books by Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson. The latter, plus Rickie Fowler and his father, Pete, would make up PJ’s dream foursome.
“PJ is a very driven kid and the cool part is I’ve never had to ask him to practice or go to the golf course,” father Pete Maybank said. “He’s pushed us to take him, and one of his goals was to get back to Augusta after coming up short last time. Seeing him set a goal on his own and make it come to fruition was fantastic.”
Registration for the first round of completion for a 2019 trip to Augusta begins in April at www.drivechipandputt.com.
Local competitions will be held:
June 22 Whispering Willows, Livonia
June 25 Midland CC, Midland
July 9 Bay Meadows, Traverse City
July 13 Boulder Creek, Belmont
July 16 Pheasant Run, Canton
July 21 Fox Hills Learning Center, Plymouth
July 24 Oak Pointe CC, Brighton
July 26 Grand Haven GC, Grand Haven
July 31 Hawk Hollow, Bath
August 7 Gull Lake View Resort, Battle Creek
