Five Minnesotans Headed to Finals of Drive, Chip and Putt Competition at Augusta

September 30, 2017 | 5 min.

By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  EDINA, Minn. – In the footsteps of golf icons Bobby Jones and Patty Berg at the historic Interlachen Country Club on a cool September day in the Twin Cities, a total of 64 participants looked to become one of eight finalists moving on to the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National next April.

Though unlikely Jones’ infamous ‘Lily Pad shot’ would be duplicated at Interlachen’s ninth hole Saturday, a new generation of golfers created memories sure to last for years to come.

Among the first to qualify Saturday was Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native Isabella McCauley, who won the Girls’ 14-15 Division thanks in part to her start off the tee.

McCauley, 13, earned a victory in the driving portion of the tournament and had a strong showing with her putter to earn a 17-point victory to advance to the finals at Augusta for the second consecutive year.

“I was shaking up at the tee, but my drives were some of the longest I’ve hit,” McCauley said after advancing Saturday. “I had high expectations and thought coming into the competition that I had a chance. I hope to do better and have a great time. It’s going to be a great experience.”

Also advancing to the regional qualifier for a second time was McCauley’s younger sister, Reece, who competed in the Girls’ 12-13 Division Saturday.

Now making her second appearance at the national event, the elder McCauley gave her sister some worthy advice before hitting her first tee shot.

“I told her to go out and have fun, but mostly to trust herself and see what she can do.”

Prior to qualifying for the 2017 championship, an emotional McCauley watched her hopes of advancing to the 2016 event evaporate after finishing in a tie for first in her age group, but would lose a scorecard playoff.

Assuming a different role on the golf course Saturday was PGA professional Ryan Helminen, who watched daughter Aliisa win the Girls’ 7-9 Division to advance to the national championship next April.

“It’s way easier for me to play than to watch her,” Helminen, who plays in the Minnesota Section of the PGA, said of his nerves watching his daughter compete Saturday. “I can handle making mistakes on the golf course.

“She makes me drag her with to the golf course every day—she loves it,” he said of his daughter’s early passion for the game. “Her game got better this year and mine got worse.”

The younger Helminen, 9, finished second in the driving portion of the qualifier Saturday before a strong showing with her wedge as she earning a victory in the chipping discipline and a third-place finish in putting.

“I was more excited than nervous today,” Helminen said after qualifying. “I’m really excited—it’s like a dream come true.”

After missing an opportunity to play in the PGA’s final major of the season in early August, Aliisa told her dad, “Since he didn’t make the [PGA Championship], I told him that I’m going to take him to Augusta.”

Following a slight mishap at the subregional qualifier a year ago, Wisconsin’s Aiden Antony redeemed himself to win the Boys’ 7-9 Division Saturday, earning his first trip down Magnolia Lane next spring.

“We forgot my clubs and had to use someone else’s,” Antony recalled from last year’s subregional qualifier.

Antony, 8-years-old from Milwaukee, Wis., finished second in driving Saturday before sharing a victory in chipping with a total of 35 points. Antony sank his first putt of the competition on his way to winning the putting skill with 50 points to earn an 18-point victory in his age group.

“Once I hit my first shot, my parents thought I should try it out,” Antony said of his start to the sport. When we moved to Wisconsin I started playing more. “I’m looking forward to meeting the players [at Augusta].”

Among other qualifiers at Interlachen Saturday was Corey Boerner, of Bloomington, Minn., who won the putting skill to advance to his first Drive, Chip and Putt finals with a six-point victory in the Boys’ 14-15 Division.

Vunnisa Vu, from Maplewood, Minn., advanced from the Girls’ 12-13 Division without a victory in any of the disciplines Saturday. Vu, an avid tennis player, finished second in driving and putting to earn a slim, one-point victory to move on to Augusta next April.

After three-runner up finishes at regional qualifying, the fourth attempt proved to be the charm for Andrew Ramos who won the Boys’ 12-13 Division to earn his spot in the national championship in April.

Ramos, from Blaine, Minn., earned a 16-point victory in his age group without winning either of the skills.

Earning his second trip to Augusta for the second time in three years is West St. Paul, Minn., native Sam Udovich, who earned a qualifying spot by winning the Boys’ 10-11 Division thanks to his first-place finish in driving and a pair of second-place finishes in both chipping and putting.

Avery Zweig, from McKinney, Texas, earned a trip back to Augusta after qualifying for the 2016 championship at the regional qualifier at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

Zweig posted a score of 144 Saturday to cruise to a 35-point victory in the Girls’ 10-11 Division by winning both the driving and chipping skills before finishing third in putting.

Saturday’s qualifier at Interlachen was one of 10 regional qualifying sites across the country as the field of 80 is now set at the championship April 1st, 2018. Since its inception in 2013, the event has grown each year, drawing thousands and thousands of eager participants, hoping for a chance to play at one of the country’s most storied clubs.


For complete tournament results, click here

 

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