Minnesota kid wins Drive, Chip and Putt title at Augusta National
A 12-year-old from Minnesota kid who can drive the ball 270 yards was crowned the champion of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at August National Golf Course on Sunday.
Sam Udovich, of Inver Grove Heights, won the drive portion of the competition with a 270-yard smash, then won the chipping competition. His lead was so big entering the putting competition on the 18th green that it didn't matter that he finished ninth in the third leg of the tournament.
The next closest drive was 246 yards.
On his two chip shot attempts, Udovich left the first just 8 inches from the hole and the second was 1 foot and 7 inches short. Both of his chip shots were closer than any of the other nine competitors' shots.
According to the USGA, it was Udovich's third appearance at the national finals.
“Since I live in Minnesota, I’m practicing in domes, so it gave me an extra year to work on stuff," Udovich told the USGA. "I practice on artificial grass for putting, so it’s very fast and that kind of helped me on my putting."
The Associated Press reports that Udovich was congratulated by Justin Thomas, the No. 2 golfer in the world who is among the favorites at The Masters this week.
