Dreams come true in Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Nine-year-old Jay Leng, Jr., will add a broken trophy to his ever expanding collection of more than 100 trophies and medals he's won playing golf when he gets back home to Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Thanks to Nick Faldo.
The good sir from England, who won three Masters titles, was one of the past champions who handed out trophies to winning participants in the second annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals held Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. In awarding Leng one of three trophies he won, Faldo accidentally broke a piece of one of them.
"He asked if the Masters had Super Glue," said Leng, who won the putting contest and the chipping contest and was the overall winner of the 7-9 boys division after sinking a 15-foot putt in a three-kid playoff.
It was one of many magical moments on a pristine Easter Sunday at one of golf's cathedrals. Eighty kids ages 7 to 15 turned the hallowed grounds into their playground for a few hours in an event created by the Masters Tournament Foundation, U.S. Golf Association and the PGA of America to help grow the game.
Many said driving down Magnolia Lane was a highlight. For some of those from the northern states, seeing grass for the first time in months was a highlight. So was stepping onto the 18th green. And shaking hands with former Secretary of State and Augusta National member Condoleezza Rice. And hitting drives on the immaculate driving range.
Or striking up a conversation with Masters champ Fred Couples.
"I just walked over there and said, 'Hey, Mr. Couples, how you doing?'" said Toby Wilson, who won the boys 14-15 division. "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.'"
And it was the setting where Morgan Goldstein turned her dreams into reality.
The 13-year-old from Las Vegas watched her brother compete at Augusta National last year from outside the ropes.
"This year I got inside the ropes," she said. "It was amazing."
As was her performance. Goldstein won the driving portion in the 12-13 girls division. Then she chipped in to win the chipping contest. Then she holed the putt to win the putting contest.
"In my dreams, yes," Goldstein said when asked if she ever thought she'd sweep the three contests and become the overall winner.
Faldo, who joined Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw, Mark O'Meara, Trevor Immelman and Mike Weir in handing out the hardware, said the Drive, Chip and Putt initiative is a success.
"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," Faldo said. "What an incentive for youngsters. To get out and drive, chip and putt, and your reward is to come here is fantastic."
Added Watson: "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."
That's basically what Alexandra Swayne said about her experience. On Saturday night she putted on the carpet at her hotel to get ready.
"It still wasn't as fast as out here," said Swayne, who won the 14-15 girls division. Her backyard is the TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. "This was absolutely amazing. Being on the 18th green was amazing."
Here are the winners:
7-9 Girls: Effie Perakis of Glenview, Illinois
7-9 Boys: Jay Leng, Jr. of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
10-11 Girls: Lydia Swan of North East, Pa.
10-11 Boys: Jake Peacock of Alpharetta, Ga.
12-13 Girls: Morgan Goldstein of Las Vegas
12-13 Boys: George Duangmanee of Fairfax, Va.
14-15 Girls: Alexandra Swayne of Maineville, Ohio
14-15 Boys: Toby Wilson of Bartlett, Tenn.