Eight Champions Crowned at 2021 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club

Eight junior golfers – four boys and four girls – were crowned champions at the seventh annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals held today, Sunday, April 4, at Augusta National Golf Club and broadcast live on Golf Channel across North and South America.  

Conducted in partnership between the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America and the USGA, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free youth golf development initiative for junior golfers of all skill and ability levels, aimed at sparking a lifelong interest in the game. The initiative welcomes boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age categories. 

Tens of thousands of participants had the opportunity to qualify for the event, which began with more than 300 local qualifiers at courses across all 50 states in the summer of 2019. From there, the  top finishers advanced through more than 60 subregionals to one of 10 regional qualifiers at some of  the nation’s most acclaimed venues and championship sites.  

Finally, the 80 regional winners across the four age divisions (40 boys and 40 girls) earned a trip to Augusta National Golf Club to participate in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the originally scheduled 2020 National Finals were postponed, and the 80 National Finalists were invited to compete today in the 2021 National Finals on the eve of the  Masters Tournament. 

The four girls age division champions were: Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada (ages 7-9);  Elyse Meerdink of Tampa, Fla. (ages 10-11); Yana Wilson of Henderson, Nev. (ages 12-13); Ali  Mulhall of Henderson, Nev. (ages 14-15). 

The four boys age division champions were: Lucas Bernstein of Fresno, Calif. (ages 7-9); Brady Barnum of Dublin, Ohio (ages 10-11); Sam Udovich of Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (ages 12-13); Jaivir Pande of Houston, Texas (ages 14-15). 

“Our goal since the founding of this event was to provide opportunities that would inspire young  boys and girls to develop and deepen their love for the great game of golf,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “These 80 National Finalists showed immense passion and talent, and seeing them perform at Augusta National is something we are proud and fortunate to celebrate.” 

“Drive, Chip and Putt is a showcase for the future of the game,” said PGA President Jim  Richerson. “Starting at the grassroots level with events hosted by PGA Professionals across our 41  Sections nationwide, junior golfers have an opportunity to achieve an amazing dream of competing  in the National Finals at Augusta National. The talent on display today was outstanding, and we  congratulate each of the finalists, led by the eight girls and boys who will now hold the title of Drive, Chip and Putt champion.” 

“We are thrilled to successfully add another Drive, Chip and Putt to the history books,” said Mike  Davis, CEO of the USGA. “Each year we are consistently impressed with this talented group of  golfers and this year is no different. We are thankful to each participant for inspiring junior golfers across the nation, and we look forward to following their journeys in the years ahead.” 

Points were awarded in three individual skill categories (driving, chipping and putting), with the  winner in each skill receiving 10 points, second place receiving 9 points, and so on, all the way down  to 1 point. The player with the most points following all three competitions was declared the overall  winner of the age group. 

In the drive portion, the better of two distances was used for the score. Each golfer then took two  chips; the closest cumulative distance to the hole determined the winner. Players then moved to  Augusta National’s 18th green where they attempted two putts – from 30 and 15 feet – and used the  cumulative distance from the hole to determine the score. 

Here are individual age group summaries: 

It was a thrilling day for Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. After winning the first  discipline of the day with her 205-yard drive, Card placed eighth in chipping. She then bounced back  by sinking her 15-foot putt to win the putt competition and become the overall champion in her age group with 23 points, edging out fellow Canadian competitor Anna Wu by two points.  

When she saw her name atop the leader board, she said her mind went blank for a second. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s just amazing.” 

After winning the chipping discipline and finishing third in driving, Elyse Meerdink of Tampa,  Fla., was the leader in her age group by three total points. On the storied 18th green at Augusta  National, her first putt rolled long, but a determined Meerdink steadied herself, resolving to sink her 15-foot putt attempt and take home first place overall.  

“After the first putt, I was not happy, but I was just like, ‘Please be within the range to where I still  have a chance on the next putt to win,’” Meerdink said. “I just stepped over and kind of lined up and  just trusted myself, and it went in the hole,” she added. “Just to play, it’s very inspiring, and it 

motivates me to work harder so that one day maybe I’ll be able to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.”  

Yana Wilson of Henderson, Nev., became a two-time Drive, Chip and Putt National Champion,  having previously won in 2019. After holing her second attempt during the chipping discipline,  Wilson was in first place heading to the 18th green. She needed to be within 2’ 8” of the hole to hold  onto her lead—and she knocked her second putt safely within that distance to secure a one-point  victory over Lucy Yuan of San Diego, Calif. 

“My main goal here was just to have fun. I mean, you know you’re at Augusta National. It can’t get  better than this. Except winning,” said Wilson, whose best friend Ali Mulhall won the Girls 14-15 age  group earlier in the day. Of their friendship, Wilson shared that they “play tournaments together and that’s how we push each other. If one of us beats the other one, we’ll definitely work harder the next time.” 

Fifteen-year-old Ali Mulhall of Henderson, Nev., is already an accomplished golfer and 2018  National Finalist. Just last year, she became the first woman to compete in the Nevada Open. She also shares her passion for golf with her best friend and fellow 2021 Drive, Chip and Putt National  Champion Yana Wilson. Mulhall started the day off strong, placing first in driving with her first  attempt measuring 251 yards, and followed with a win in the chip competition. She solidified her overall victory with a third-place finish in the putting discipline for a 28-point total, tied for highest score of the day.  

Back at Augusta National for the second time, Mulhall said this year felt different. “I think the first  year I was more in awe of what was happening and where I was at, and this year I kept my nerves  more steady. I was able to take it in more and just stay even throughout the whole competition.” 

Lucas Bernstein of Fresno, Calif., took home the overall title with consistent performances  throughout the day. After placing third in driving and second in chipping, he kept up the momentum  in the putting discipline, ultimately claiming first overall in his age group. Bernstein’s favorite song is Queen’s “We are the Champions,” and he said it feels good to return home from Augusta National as a Drive, Chip and Putt National Champion.  

“I was a little anxious,” Bernstein said of his emotions today. “I’m pretty sure my dad was a little  more anxious than I was. But for the most part, before the competition, I was walking, I was calm and chill. But once you got up, and you were in line and you were next, then your adrenaline gets  going.” 

Brady Barnum of Dublin, Ohio, once thought he wasn’t a strong putter. After dedicating himself  to lots of practice, he now loves to putt—and indeed his hard work helped him edge out the  competition today. He sunk his first putt from 30 feet, and his second attempt stopped just 7” away 

from the hole, securing his title as the 2021 National Champion in his age group and tying the highest overall score of the day with 28 points.  

Barnum, who placed fifth overall at the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, said of his experiences, “I put a lot of hard work into this, and it’s a privilege to be here at Augusta.” 

In his third Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals appearance, Sam Udovich of Inver Grove  Heights, Minn., proved to be a dominant competitor. He won the first discipline with a 270-yard  drive and triumphed in the chip competition to earn a firm lead heading to the 18th green. Though he  placed ninth in putting, Udovich’s strong start to the day gave him a comfortable margin to claim first place overall in his age group.  

Of his preparation during the past year, Udovich said, “Since I live in Minnesota, I’m practicing in domes, so it gave me an extra year to work on stuff. I practice on artificial grass for putting, so it’s very fast and that kind of helped me on my putting.” He added that “I was here three times, and I think third time’s the charm.” 

Moving into the putting discipline, Jaivir Pande of Houston, Texas, had a three-point advantage with second-place finishes in both driving and chipping. He lined up his putter, needing his 15-foot attempt to be 4’ 8” or closer to win, and sunk the putt to secure the victory. His seven-point winning margin was the largest of the day.  

“I knew I had a little bit of a lead going into the putting, and the 30-footer—I saw it got a little quick  at the end, so I was able to get that one close,” said Pande. “It was a great experience to be able to  make the putt on 18.” Pande, who grew up playing golf in Nepal with his grandfather on summer  holidays, shared that “it’s great for him to be able to watch it in Nepal on TV and just see me here at  the greatest stage in golf.” 

Registration is now open on drivechipandputt.com for the 2021-22 qualifying season, which begins May 1, 2021, with more than 330 free local qualifiers in all 50 states for boys and girls, ages 7-15.