Virginia Junior Golfers Kaylee Bell (Girls 14-15) from Virginia Beach, Lucas Dunaway (Boys 7-9) from Troy, Sajen Hodge (Boys 10-11) from Richmond, and Mason Palmer (Boys 14-15) from Roanoke Competed Against 80 National Finalists Who Earned the Trip to Augusta After Capturing Regional Qualifying Events Hosted by The Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Stafford, Va. – The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America (MAPGA) is congratulating the four junior golfers from the region that competed in the 11th National Drive, Chip & Putt Competition, held at famed Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga., on Sunday, April 6th, prior to the start of The Masters Tournament.
A joint initiative founded in 2013 by The Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America, Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf.
By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, Drive, Chip & Putt provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. In addition to the National Finals, which was broadcast live by Golf Channel, the 80 participants also got to take in Monday’s Masters practice round.
The Middle Atlantic-based youth golfers, all from Virginia, include Kaylee Bell from Virginia Beach who competed in the girls 14-15 age group and finished tied for 3rd place, Lucas Dunaway from Troy who competed in the boys 7-9 age group and finished in 2nd place, Sajen Hodge from Richmond, who competed in the boys 10-11 age group and finished tied for 7th place, and Mason Palmer from Roanoke who competed in the boys 14-15 age group who finished in 10th place.
All four players became national finalists after capturing a series of qualifying events that were hosted by Middle Atlantic PGA Professionals at facilities across the region. Along with a link to their bio, they include:
Kaylee Bell, Girls 14-15 Age Group
- Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA (Kaylee Bell – 2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship)
Lucas Dunaway, Boys 7-9 Age Group
- Hometown: Troy, VA (Lucas Dunaway – 2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship)
Sajen Hodge, Boys 10-11 Age Group
- Hometown: Richmond, VA (Sajen Hodge – 2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship)
Mason Palmer, Boys 14-15 Age Group
- Hometown: Roanoke, VA (Mason Palmer – 2025 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship)
“Each year our MAPGA Professionals are proud to host qualifying tournaments for the Drive, Chip & Putt Competition, and we are thrilled that four junior golfers from the region are among the 80 participants who enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when they competed at Augusta National,” said Jon Guhl, Executive Director, Middle Atlantic PGA. “This competition exemplifies the spirit of the game and helps reinforce the importance of junior golf, and our programs throughout the MAPGA continue to serve as a breeding ground for young players to hone their skills and become lifelong golfers.”
Today, the Middle Atlantic PGA reaches more than 2,500 junior golfers annually through programming that promotes the values and skills learned through the game and which positively impact a child for the rest of their life. Each year, MAPGA offers six different tournament programs that not only help grow this great game but teach kids the value of integrity and sportsmanship.
For more information on the Middle Atlantic PGA, visit www.mapga.com.
About the Middle Atlantic PGA Section
The Middle Atlantic PGA Section (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The MAPGA has been a part of The PGA since 1925 and consists of over 1,200 members and associates in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There are over 900,000 golfers playing more than 16.5 million rounds of golf a season in the Middle Atlantic region. As player development remains a driving force in the golf industry, the MAPGA provides a wide variety of programs and assistance to support its members who teach the game, promote goodwill and share the game’s values to their golfing customers and their communities in general. Locally, MAPGA Professionals assist in raising over $6 million annually for charities.
