March 22, 2024 •Southern Texas PGA
Three junior golfers were hosted at the first ever STPGA Drive, Chip & Putt Media Day.
WALLER,TX (MARCH 22, 2024) - Today, the Southern Texas PGA hosted our very first Drive, Chip & Putt Media Day at Sand Hill Farm Golf Club to celebrate three junior golfers and their awesome accomplishment of reaching the 10th Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals.
The National Finals will be played on Sunday, April 7 at the famous Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. Texas Terry, Hayes Pethtel, and Waits Rodriguez will all represent the STPGA alongside 77 other junior golfers that qualified throughout the country. Drive, Chip & Putt is a grow the game initiative where thousands of juniors participate in local, sub-regional, and then regional competitions to reach the National Finals.
Waits Rodriguez of Houston, Texas is 9 years old and qualified at the regional qualifier at Champions Golf Club hosted by the STPGA in the fall. He punched his ticket by being the only player in the Boys 7-9 divisions to earn a score above 100, with a final score of 128. Waits finished first in chipping by being one of the only players at the regional to sink a chip.
Rodriguez says “I wouldn’t be going to Augusta without the support of my dad, he is the reason that I started golfing.”
Hayes Pethtel of Belton, Texas is 11 years old and also qualified through the regional at Champions Golf Club. Hayes finished with a final score of 117 after putting on a show on the putting green. He put all three puts within a foot of the hole, which included his second one that he sunk from 15 feet. That led him to the top of the leaderboard in the Boys 10-11 division and a punched ticket to Augusta.
Pethel says “It means a lot to have this opportunity to go to such a pristine course like Augusta National. ”
Texas Terry of Austin, Texas is 11 years old and competed in the regional qualifier at TPC Deere Run in Illinois. Texas didn’t have much room for error during the qualifier and needed all 120 points to beat second place by just one point. He secured his spot at Augusta by finding the grid all three times with his driver during the drive skill.
Terry says “I’m most confident with the driving portion going into Augusta, especially after I hit all three drives in the grid at the regional qualifier!”
For all three of these junior golfers, this will be one of the many accolades in their golf careers, as they have played a combined total of 179 tournaments with the STPGA and they are only just getting started.
This unique media day allowed for the three finalists to participate in a press conference, as well as one on one interviews with local news channels. They received some goodie bags, participated in challenges and played a round of golf together afterward.
Be on the lookout for fun content from the event on STPGA Junior Golf social media from now until the National Finals and then watch them on Golf Channel April 7 th!
Click here for the photo gallery!
