ONE OF GOLF ’ S TRUE FEEL-GOOD STORIES unfolds every year on the Sunday before the Masters begins at Augusta National Golf Club as eighty kids of varying backgrounds from across the United States descend upon golf ’ s hallowed grounds for the National Drive , Chip and Putt finals .
As usual , Virginia is well represented in the field , as three VSGA members will compete for the chance at national glory in an event televised by Golf Channel .
Drive , Chip and Putt was founded in 2013 as a joint initiative of the Masters Tournament , the USGA and The PGA of America . It ’ s a free nationwide junior golf development competition for youths ages 7-15 aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf . The 80 finalists advanced through three stages of qualifying in 2022 — local , sub-regional and regional — with only the top player in each gender ’ s age division advancing to Augusta .
Watch the finals on Sunday , April 2 from 8 a . m . -1 p . m . on Golf Channel .
Here ’ s a quick look at Virginia ’ s three representatives . Interview excerpts are courtesy of Drive , Chip and Putt . For full interviews with the players and the other finalists in the field , visit drivechipandputt . com and click on 2023 finalists .
MACIE RASMUSSEN ›
Age division : Girls 12-13 Residence / club : Chesapeake / Cypress Point CC Grade / school : 8th , Greenbrier Christian Academy Lowest score ( 9 / 18 holes ): 31 / 62 Handicap Index™ : 0.1
FIVE QUESTIONS What is your biggest achievement in golf so far ? I finished 2nd at the 2022 U . S . Kids Golf Teen World Championship .
Meet Virginia ’ s three Drive , Chip and Putt national finalists
ON AU
26 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2023
vsga . org