15 Coloradans earn berths at Murphy Creek to Drive, Chip & Putt Regional that Colorado Golf Club will host
By Gary Baines – 8/14/2021
Sixteen junior golfers, including 15 from Colorado, are one step away from earning trips to the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals on April 3 at Augusta National Golf Club, the weekend before the Masters.
The 16 landed berths into the DCP Regionals, set for Sept. 19 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. It’s just the second time a Colorado site has hosted a DCP Regional.
In the first of two Sub-Regional qualifying events scheduled for Colorado, two players in each of eight gender/age divisions advanced from Saturday’s competition at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora. The other Colorado-based Sub-Regional is set for Aug. 28 at Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton.
The top point scorer out of any gender/age division on Saturday was Brayden Destefano of Peyton, who racked up 164 points in boys 12-13.
Here are all the players from the Murphy Creek Sub-Regional who will advance to the Regional. (Points: Drive-Chip-Putt—Total):
Girls 7-9
Ruby Miller, Denver 9-3-55—67
Adelaide Renner, Johnstown 10-12-41—63
Girls 10-11
Claire Atzbach, Englewood 22-25-55–102
Chloe Johnson, Parker 15-26-55–95
Girls 12-13
Makena Thayer, Edwards 34-60-55–149
Brynn Balliet, Thornton 29-40-50–119
Girls 14-15
Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev. 64-45-41–150
Sophia Capua, Aurora 41-45-45–131
Boys 7-9
Jacob Eagan, Castle Rock 24-50-56–120
Tyler Nikkel, Fort Collins 25-30-55–110
Boys 10-11
Gage Poulsen, Timnath 38-50-41–129
Judd Nikkel, Fort Collins 26-25-65–116
Boys 12-13
Brayden Destefano, Peyton 59-35-70–164
Anthony Chen, Aurora 62-55-40—157
Boys 14-15
Matai Naqica, Centennial 45-40-70–155
Talan Gover, Lafayette 47-36-60–143
For all the scoring from Saturday’s event, CLICK HERE.
No Coloradans advanced to the DCP National Finals that were held in April at Augusta National. Those National Finals were originally scheduled for April 2020, but were postponed due to Covid-19 safety concerns.
In all, 10 courses around the country are hosting DCP Regional qualifying this year — and a stellar list it is. It also includes sites which have been home to a total of 18 U.S. Opens, nine PGA Championships and four Ryder Cups in the past. Most notably, Regionals are set for Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, Medinah Country Club in Illinois, Oak Hill Country Club in New York and Oakland Hills Country Club in Michgan. Also on the Regionals list are TPC Scottsdale, Quail Hollow, TPC River Highlands, Alotian Club and The Bear’s Club.
At each of 10 Regional qualifiers, the winner of each age/gender division advance to the DCP National Finals. There are eight age/gender divisions in each DCP event.
Regionals are the third of three stages of DCP qualifying, following Locals and Sub-Regionals.
Over the years, six Coloradans have competed in Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals, including Caitlyn Chin twice (2016 and ’19). The others are Chunya Boonta (2019), Grady Ortiz (2019), Luke Trujillo (2016), Arielle Keating (2016) and Kaden Ford (2018). Boonta posted the best finish ever by a Coloradan at the National Finals, placing second in her age group two years ago.
In all, 80 junior golfers (40 boys and 40 girls) qualify for the National Finals each year — 10 contestants in each division.
In DCP events, contestants score points in each discipline — driving, chipping and putting — based on how they place in each, with the points added together for a cumulative total.
DCP is sponsored by the Masters, the USGA and the PGA of America. The competition is limited to players 7-15.