An incredible weekend in Los Angeles was filled with fun, memories and great competition as junior golfers gathered at Los Angeles Country Club for the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier.

Competitors from across the southwestern United States and Hawaii arrived at LACC with one goal in mind: earning a trip to the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The Los Angeles Regional brought together junior golfers who had advanced through local and subregional qualifying, representing PGA of America Sections throughout the region.

Golfers brought their A-game to the championship venue, but just as evident as the competition was their appreciation for the opportunity. When asked to describe how it felt to compete at the Regional Qualifier, players used words including “grateful,” “thankful,” “blessed” and “excited.”

At the end of the day, eight competitors earned the opportunity to continue their journey to Augusta National:

Girls 7–9: Lina Kim
Boys 7–9: Parker Smith
Girls 10–11: Charlotte Halstead
Boys 10–11: Boone Burkett
Girls 12–13: Eileen Lee
Boys 12–13: Jonathan Xu
Girls 14–15: Mackenzie Wilkinson
Boys 14–15: Jeremiah Baddeley

For Baddeley, the day carried an especially meaningful family connection. Jeremiah had his father, PGA TOUR player Aaron Baddeley, alongside him throughout the experience. When Jeremiah was asked to name his favorite golfer, his answer came easily: his dad.

For Aaron, watching his son compete offered a different perspective on the game he has played professionally for years. He said seeing Jeremiah compete at this level was encouraging for his own game as well, with the possibility that father and son could both find themselves competing on an Augusta stage in 2027.

Jeremiah ultimately earned the Boys 14–15 title and secured his own trip to Augusta National, turning a memorable father-son weekend into another chapter in the Baddeley family’s golf story.

The day also delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the Regional Qualifier in the Boys 10–11 division. After regulation competition ended in a tie for first place, the division came down to a live playoff from 15 feet. The stakes could hardly have been higher. A trip to Augusta National rested on a single putt.

With competitors finished and friends, families and fellow players gathered around, all eyes turned toward the putting green. What had been an entire day of drives, chips and putts suddenly came down to one moment. Boone Burkett ultimately prevailed in the playoff, earning the Boys 10–11 title and a place in the National Finals.

Those moments were representative of the atmosphere throughout the day. Parents followed every shot, friends cheered from outside the ropes and several sets of siblings had the opportunity to compete at the same Regional Qualifier and encourage one another through each stage of competition.

Los Angeles Country Club provided a perfect setting for the occasion. The championship venue, which hosted the 2023 U.S. Open, gave junior golfers the opportunity to compete at one of the most recognizable courses in the country. The competitors were also given a rare chance to purchase LACC merchandise, providing another keepsake from an already unforgettable experience.

But long after the scores and results are remembered, it may be the moments surrounding the competition that last the longest — parents walking alongside their children, siblings rooting for one another, competitors celebrating great shots and families sharing in the excitement of what the day represented.

For eight champions, the Road to Augusta continues.

For everyone who competed at Los Angeles Country Club, lifelong memories were made along the way.