NJ Trio Competes in Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 7, 2024) -- The 10th Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals was highlighted by the competition's first hometown winner as 80 juniors lived the dream of competing at Augusta National. New Jersey was represented by a trio of youngsters, with Victoria Kim of Ridgewood, N.J., posting the highest finish.
Related: Drive, Chip and Putt Home
Competing in the Girls 7-9 division, Kim improved her point totals on each discipline. After starting with three points with her long drive of 157.4 yards, Kim placed chips 10 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 2 inches to collect six points. In putting, Kim's two putts finished 3 feet 4 inches from the hole and 2 feet 9 inches from the hole for the second lowest total as she earned nine points. Her 18-point total earned her a fourth-place finish.
Ethan Jung of Fort Lee, N.J., and Isaac Lee of Alpine, N.J., both competed in the Boys 7-9 division, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively. Jung's highest-point discipline came in chipping as he scored eight points with a 9 foot 7 inch total distance from the hole for his two shots. He tallied 16 points overall. Lee gathered his most points in putting, with his two rolls measuring a total of 6 feet from the hole to earn him six points.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 5, 2024) – On Sunday, April 7 – the eve of the 88th Masters Tournament – 80 junior golfers representing 31 U.S. states, one Canadian province, and Australia will compete in the 10th Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club.
Three New Jersey natives stand among those competing in last stop for the nationwide youth golf development program that’s conducted in partnership between the USGA, the Masters Tournament, and the PGA of America.
Related: Drive, Chip and Putt Home
Victoria Kim of Ridgewood, N.J., made her way through qualifying at Deer Run Golf & Tennis Club in Lincoln Park, N.J., and Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, N.J., before advancing from TPC of Boston in Norton, Mass. She will compete in the Girls 7-9 division. Putting led the way for Kim in the regional, as she made two of her three attempts. She totaled 46 points in driving and chipping and added 55 from putting to amass 103 total points and best her closest competitor by 24 points.
Isaac Lee of Alpine, N.J., had his journey to Augusta begin at Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough Township, N.J., before also advancing through Fiddler’s Elbow and TPC Boston. Lee had a much closer battle in the Boys 7-9 division; however, he improved his total in each discipline, earning 23 points on drives, 35 points in chipping, and 42 points in putting to edge his next closest competitor by three points.
Ethan Jung of Fort Lee, N.J., will also compete in the Boys 7-9 division, having advanced through qualifying at Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia in Pine Hill, N.J., DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., and Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. This was Jung’s third year competing in Drive, Chip and Putt. Jung also improved scores from one discipline to the other en route to an impressive 30-point victory. He tallied 34 points on his drives, 50 points in chipping, and 55 points in putting.
Qualifying took place between May and October 2023 with local, subregional, and regional stages. The top finishers from each regional site’s age/gender divisions earned their way to the famed grounds of Augusta National.
At the 10th annual National Finals, one champion will be named from each of the eight age/gender division. Each National 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.