The Drive, Chip, and Putt championships happened the first weekend of April – the week before the 88th Masters Tournament. Dozens of junior golfers ascended upon Augusta National Golf Club, as the prestigious course once again played host to the championship this year. Of the 80 qualifying competitors and eight division champions, four Hurricane Junior Golf Tour golfers took the top spot of their respective divisions.
One of those incredible winners was 11-year-old Texas Terry from Austin, Texas. Texas was the Boys 10-11 Drive, Chip, and Putt Champion as the representative of the Upper Midwest region. His totals for the events were 220.90 YD on the drive, 5’9″ on the chip, and 4’0″ on the putt. Points were awarded in three individual skill categories (driving, chipping, and putting), with the winner in each skill receiving 10 points, second place receiving 9 points, and so on, all the way down to 1 point. The player with the most points following all three competitions was declared the overall winner of the age group.
Texas Terry’s Journey To Augusta
Texas started golfing on the Hurricane Tour two years ago as a 9-year-old. He told us that his “favorite HJGT tournaments are the three-day, 54-hole tournaments,” because “it is fun playing with new friends from all over the country!”
We asked Texas what it meant to win such a prestigious event. “I have always wanted to attend The Masters,” Terry said. “My Dad said that in order for me to go to The Masters, I would need to earn it.” Texas certainly went out and earned it. He went on to tell us that, “for the past three years, I made it to the Regional stage of Drive, Chip & Putt, and this was my first year to win Regionals. It was such an honor to be one of the ten boys in the 10-11 age category who qualified for Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National.”
Texas also talked to us about his experience at Augusta. “I already felt like a winner by playing at Augusta National,” Terry said. “The National Finals is extremely challenging because all of the finalists are outstanding golfers.” When we asked the young phenom what he wanted people to know about him, he replied, “I worked really hard to perform my best, and winning the National Championship was icing on the cake! I hope that every girl and boy who plays golf will enter Drive, Chip & Putt. It is an opportunity of a lifetime!”
After winning something like this, it can be hard to know what else you want to accomplish. Not for Texas Terry. “My golf dreams are to one day play on The University of Texas men’s golf team, graduate from The University of Texas, play on the PGA Tour, play with Scottie Scheffler, and win a career Grand Slam.” Those career goals may seem lofty, but for this amazing player, it isn’t as lofty as you might think. Back in 2023, Texas won the Texas Junior Open with a +3. He is already on the path that he wants, and it seems certain that he will find success along the way.
