Mililani’s Kate Nakaoka will be Hawaii’s inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt finalist at next year’s Masters. She won her regional qualifier Saturday at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif.
The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters tournament, United States Golf Association and PGA of America. The free nationwide junior golf development competition is aimed at growing the game by focusing on golf’s three fundamental skills.
Nakaoka did not win any of the three disciplines, but captured the Girls 10-11 division with 114 points — 14 more than the runner-up.
Her sister Mia came up two points short of qualifying and is first alternate in Girls 7-9. Keola Silva placed third in Boys 7-9 and is second alternate.
The Aloha Section PGA held local qualifiers on the four major islands and a subregional at Kapolei. From there, 14 juniors advanced to represent Hawaii at Torrey Pines, which also included California qualifiers.
The championship is April 1 at Augusta National Golf Club — the Sunday before the Masters begins.
Hawaii misses cut
Hawaii just missed the cut at last week’s 12th and final USGA Women’s State Team Championship, in Santa Fe, N.M.
The team shot rounds of 155 and 153 (best two scores of three players) to finish 23rd in the event, which had teams from 47 states and the District of Columbia. The top 22 teams made the final round.
Hawaii’s youngest player was 52-year-old Patricia Schremmer (74-148). Her teammates were Jeanne Pak (79-160) and Mira Jang (91-182).
The winning team was an all-teenage trio from Tennessee that finished at 1-under 431.
The medalist was two-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Julia Potter, who shot 6-under 210. Former Hawaii resident Aneka Seumanutafa, playing for Maryland, tied for fifth.
