Stafford, Va. August 20, 2013 – The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America will host a regional qualifier for the inaugural National Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship at River Bend Golf & Country Club in Great Falls, Va. on Monday, August 26, 2013. A creation of The PGA of America, United States Golf Association and the Masters Foundation, the Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship welcomes junior golfers ages 9-15 as of April 6, 2014 to earn a trip to Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, and play the 18th hole on the Sunday before the 2014 Masters Tournament. Contestants to play in this competition have made it through local qualifying and need to finish at the top of their group in the regional to advance to Augusta National.
160 junior golfers are expected to compete in the regional at River Bend and only eight will earn a spot to the national championship at Augusta National. Competitors will be divided into groups by age and gender and will compete at the following times: 3:00-4:00 – Boys & Girls 14-15; 4:00-5:00 – Boys & Girls 10-11; 5:00-6:00 – Boys & Girls 7-9; 6:00-7:00 – Boys & Girls 12-13.
Top Contenders
In the girls division, Sydney Mills of Severna Park, Md., who is in the 14-15 age division, had the highest point total (142) of any girl in the 10 local competitions. Karsen Rush of Chambersburg, Pa. will be one to watch in the boys division. Rush is in the 12-13 age group and scored 159 points at his local qualifier. For complete results of the local qualifiers, please visit the Drive, Chip, and Putt page on MAPGA.com (http://www.mapga.com/drivechip-putt/).
All in the Family
Eight families will have more than one child competing at River Bend next Monday. The Zambruno family from Mount Pleasant, Pa. will have daughters Ella, Meghan, Abby and Olivia competing in three of the four age divisions. In their local qualifier at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton, Va., Ella and Meghan finished first and second, respectively, in the 7-9 division while Abby finished second in the 12-13 division and Olivia finished first in the 14-15 division. Traveling all the way from Greenville, SC will be siblings Mayan and Nicole Shah. Mayan finished second in the boys 14-15 division at the River Bend qualifier and his sister Nicole won the girls 10-11 division. Joining the Zambruno’s and the Shah’s in this family-filled event are Addison and Barrett Butler (Bristow, Va.); Queenie and Fiona Madrid (Washington, DC); Victoria and Winston Matthews (Great Falls, Va.); Shaun and Riley Mazzalupi (King of Prussia, Pa.); Thomas and Alexia Sanders (Blacklick, Ohio); and Megan And Alyssa Yoder (Narvon, Pa.)
Scoring for Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship
Scoring is based on a maximum 25-point-per-shot basis, with each participant taking three shots per skill. The winner in each group is determined by the participant with the most points (maximum of 225 points).
For more information about the Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship, including official rules, qualifying sites or to register, please visit www.DriveChipandPutt.com.
A complete list of players can be accessed through the Drive, Chip, and Putt area on MAPGA.com.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
About the Masters Tournament Foundation
The Masters Tournament Foundation, inspired by the enduring philosophies of Masters Tournament founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is committed to promoting golf’s domestic and international development through financial investment and active participation in initiatives aimed at preserving the traditions of the game and sharing its many virtues.
The Masters Tournament – since its very beginning – strives to provide added exposure to the game of golf and inspire interest in the sport worldwide.
About the United States Golf Association
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Contact:
Augusta National Golf Club
Steve Ethun, Director of Communications
(706) 667-6705; spethun@augustanational.com
United States Golf Association
Joe Goode, Managing Director – Communications
(908) 470-5008; jgoode@usga.org
PGA of America
Julius Mason, Senior Director, Communications and Media Relations
(561) 624-8444, jmason@pgahq.com
MAPGA Contact:
Stephanie Jennings, PGA
sjennings@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 116
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