Photo furnished
National Drive Chip and Putt Competitors (left to right) Jordan Bardfield of Mt. Zion, Lane Ludwig of Effingham and Brett Bushue of Sullivan.

•June 22, 2016•

The first leg of local qualifying for the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship was held Friday, June 17 at Effingham Country Club. Brett Bushue of Sullivan won first place overall in the 10-11 year old age group; Kate Bushue won first place in the 7-9 year old age group.

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States

Photo furnished
Girls’ National Drive Chip and Putt competitors (left to right) Frank Chieppa who is employed with the PGA of America as Regional Manager of Player Development, Makenna Mayhood of Effingham, Kate Bushue of Sullivan and Elizabeth Hirtzel of Effingham.

Golf Association and The PGA of America, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.