Drive, Chip & Putt Competition Crowns Winners


Eight junior golfers from around the U.S. were crowned winners of the second annual Drive, Chip and Putt. The competition took place Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club, site of the Masters, which starts Thursday.

Toby Wilson of Bartlett, Tenn., won the boys 14-15 age group, rebounding from a tie for last in the first event, driving, by winning both the chipping and putting and scoring 21.5 points, a half-point ahead of Everett Whiten Jr. of Chesapeake, Va.

Wilson said the highlight of his day was meeting 1992 Masters' champion Fred Couples. "I just walked over there and said, 'Hey, Mr. Couples, how you doing?' " said Wilson. "He's like, 'What's up, Bud?' And he said, 'So how do you like this place?' I was like, 'It's pretty nice if you ask me.' He's like, 'All right, go get 'em.' I'm like, 'I'm going to try to.' "

The other boys' division winners were George Duangmanee of Fairfax, Va. (12-13), Jake Peacock of Alpharetta, Ga (10-11), and Jay Leng, Jr. of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (7-9).

When Leng was presented the trophy by three-time Masters' winner - one of eight former champions, all dressed in their green jackets, at the event - accidentally broke it. "(Faldo) said, 'Does the Masters have Super Glue?' " Leng told reporters.

Alexandra Swayne of Maineville, Ohio, took the girls 14-15, edging Jennifer Rosenberg of Laurel Hollow, N.Y.

In the other girls' divisions, Morgan Goldstein of Las Vegas won every category to score a perfect 30 points in the 12-13 group. "It was amazing to be out there, and my chipping was really good," Goldstein told reporters. "I just needed to concentrate. And it was me, the hole and the ball."

Lydia Swan of North East, Pa., also did well, scoring 25 points to win the 10-11 age group, and Effie Perakis of Glenview, Ill, won the 7-9 division.

Faldo told reporters that the event has far-reaching consequences for the competitors. "For millions of people, just to step inside the gates of Augusta National is special. For the kids to have the opportunity to come here and compete is great. It does so much for the enthusiasm," the 57-year-old said. "What an incentive for youngsters. To get out and drive, chip and putt, and your reward is to come here is fantastic."

Noted Bubba Watson, winner of two of the past three Masters: "I think being here at Augusta National obviously is a big deal. I would have tried to compete in this if this was going on when I grew up. I played in many tournaments as a kid but nothing like this. At this age, it's pretty wild and crazy to be here."

For all the scores, visit http://www.drivechipandputt.com/finals/2015-leaderboard.