'A dream come true': Evans teen is first Augusta-area Drive, Chip & Putt national champion
It took 10 years, but the Augusta area has its first Drive, Chip & Putt champion.
Kipp Madison of Evans took the boys 12-13 division Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club, becoming the first local player to win an age group.
The 13-year-old lives just 15 minutes down the road from Augusta National, something not lost on him as he had to go all the way to Nashville to qualify for the DCP National Finals.
“To be only 15 minutes away and make is just crazy but then to come here and win it is just another step of excitement," he said. "I mean, when I saw that I actually won here, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this can't be real. I'm in a dream,' so I was just so excited. To win at Augusta is just a dream come true.”
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Madison’s younger brother, Zane, competed in the boys 7-9 division in 2022, so it didn’t hurt having someone in his own house which to seek advice.
“(Zane) actually switched clubs during the chipping. He said whatever club you've been practicing with, just stick with it because that's what you're most comfortable with,” Madison said. “He told me how fast the greens are. I play at West Lake, and I played yesterday, and I thought our greens were fast and then I got here, and I was like, 'What?' It was like putting on glass. It was just incredible. He told me about the putts and just stick to your swing on the drive. You don't want to get out there and guide it out there and miss two drives. I did miss my first one, but I really committed to my second one and got it in.”
Like many Augusta-area families, the Madisons rented their house out for Masters Week, so it’ll be a quick turnaround for the young champion to reflect on a weekend he’ll never forget for the rest of his life.
As for advice for anyone looking to compete in a future Drive, Chip & Putt event, Madison’s advice is simple.
“You just need to be positive, even when you hit a bad shot because you can hit one bad shot and think there's no way I can make it now,” he said. “You can always make it, you might just have to a do little bit better on other shots and just let the ball get to the hole. Don't force it in. Just let it ride. It's so fast, it's so quick. The chipping, whatever club you've been practicing with, definitely use that club.”
The ANWA effect
The connection between the Drive, Chip & Putt finals and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur seems to be tightening every year.
Nancy Lopez and 2024 ANWA champ Lottie Woad were on hand during the trophy ceremonies Sunday. For many of the girls competing, that’s a hopeful next step in their golf careers.
“I would love to play in college and eventually play in the Women's Amateur here and go on to the LPGA,” said Taytum Oswald, who finished third in the Girls 10-11 age group.
For girls like 7-9 champion Madison Pyatt, this is a chance for her to be a cog in growing the game in her hometown of Eureka, Missouri, about an hour west of St. Louis.
“In my town, there's really no girls in girls golf so I want to represent it and try to get more girls my age into it,” she said. “I've played against myself in a few matches, so I want to get more girls out there to try to do it because I love it and I want other people to find it and love it too.”
An almost perfect trophy exchange
While shaking hands with three-time Masters Tournament champion Nick Faldo, Connor Holden’s trophy slipped and fell to the ground at Augusta National Golf Club.
“We have to work on our trophy giving,” said Faldo, drawing laughter from the patrons.
Fortunately for Holden, it was his lone hiccup Sunday. Competing in the Boys 14-15 age group, the teenager from Canby, Ore., took first place.
As for meeting Faldo, the 14-year-old said, “I’ll keep that picture for a long time.”
Holden triumphed in the chipping portion of the competition, placed third in driving, and needed to lag his final putt to within two feet to win the overall title.
“I had to take a lot of deep breaths to calm my nerves,” Holden said. “That last putt, I know it's fast, so I barely hit it just to get it within one foot and 11 inches. That won the National Title.”
For Holden, it was his first voyage to Augusta National, and says, “I can’t believe how hilly the course is. On camera it doesn’t look this hilly. It looks a lot cooler in person too.”
Lone Star legend in the making
Hogan. Crenshaw. Scheffler.
Texas Terry.
On the 40th anniversary of Ben Crenshaw’s first Masters triumph, a fellow Austin product made history on Sunday at Augusta National.
Competing in the Boys 10-11 age group, Texas Terry outlasted Georgia native Hudson Knapp by one point.
“I told Texas, ‘If you want to go to Augusta, you have to earn it,’” Jim Terry, Texas’ father, said. “I couldn’t be more proud of his work ethic and how much he’s accomplished.”
Terry’s parents attended the University of Texas, while his mom, Coral, twirled for the Longhorns.
When it came time to name their son, Coral admits, “We had a bunch of friends name their kid Austin, and we wanted to go bigger. We wanted Texas to have something to live up to.”
The fifth-grader made the Lone Star State proud.
Texas was victorious in the chipping portion of the competition, placed third in driving, and needed to lag his final putt to within 19 inches to win.
“My heart rate was racing and my legs were shaking,” Texas said. “I was a noodle.”
Texas made it clear that his dream is to play golf for UT, while his father said, “He can go anywhere but Oklahoma and Texas A&M.”
Sunday marked the Terrys' first trip to Augusta; they’ll attempt to come back next spring.
When asked what he’ll tell friends back home, the kid said, “I’ll tell them, ‘I went to heaven. I went to Augusta, Georgia.’”
2024 Drive, Chip & Putt national champions
Girls
7-9: Madison Pyatt (Eureka, Missouri)
10-11: Lily Wachter (Saint Augustine, Florida)
12-13: Karis Reid (Carmel, Indiana)
14-15: McKenna Nelson (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin)
Boys
7-9: Parker Tang (Buckeye, Arizona)
10-11: Texas Terry (Manor, Texas)
12-13: Kipp Madison (Evans, Georgia)
14-15: Connor Holden (Canby, Oregon)
Doug Stutsman contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta native Kipp Madison wins at 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt finals
