Allen Kong & Jenny Guo Qualify For Drive, Chip and Putt Finals At Augusta National
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
It figures to be the longest six months of their young lives. Nine-year-old Allen Kong of Vancouver and 12-year-old Jenny Guo of West Vancouver have punched their tickets to the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club.
Now all they have to do is wait. And practise.
The finals go on Sunday, April 6 — the start of Masters week — so the two Metro Vancouver youngsters have lots of time to dream about competing on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National before a worldwide television audience.
“I am very excited because I have never been to Augusta before,” said Kong, a Grade 4 student at St. George’s School in Vancouver. Asked how much practising he will do between now and April, Kong said: “Probably seven days a week. Maybe six, if I get to ski one day.”
Guo, the reigning B.C. Juvenile Girls champion, is also pumped about the opportunity to travel to Augusta. “I am very excited, especially since I get to watch a Masters practice round,” she said. “I have watched it on TV, so it will be fun to see the course in person.”
Kong and Guo had to survive a rigorous qualifying process to make it to the finals. After advancing from their sub-regional qualifier, they both won their regional qualifier at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. Kong won his regional qualifier for boys aged 7 to 9 with a total of 133 points to beat his closest competitor by 10 points.
Each participant accumulates points through three drives, three chips and three putts. “I got first place for chipping and driving,” Kong said. “I didn’t get first place for putting.”
Guo accumulated 143 points to win her 12 to 13 age group in the regional competition and edged her closest competitor by four points. Her strong driving — a combination of length and accuracy — helped her win the regionals. “I got 53 points for my drives which was really good for me,” said Guo, who is Grade 7 at West Bay elementary school in West Vancouver. “My putting wasn’t that good.”
Guo did not match her total from the sub-regional competition, so was a little surprised to learn she had won. “I had 156 points at the sub-regional and I won by 15 or 20 points,” she said.
It was the third time lucky for Guo, who had failed to reach the finals in two previous attempts. “The first year I made it to the regionals but didn’t get past the regionals," she said. “The second year I didn’t get past the sub-regionals and this year I finally got through.”
Both Guo and Kong will have their families with them at Augusta National. They will get to attend Monday’s Masters practice round. “It was a big surprise for us,” said Kong’s mother, Michelle. “We didn’t expect it. Our family — my daughter and husband — will all go with him.”
Click HERE to see complete results for Boys & Girls age divisions.