TAMPA, Fla. – For two Florida Junior Tour players, their dream will become a reality on Sunday.
Angela Nip and Angelina Pacheco will be among the 80 junior golfers competing in the eighth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.
“Honestly, it’s going to feel crazy going to Augusta – that’s the best word to describe it,” 13-year-old Pacheco said.
The two Floridians advanced through local qualifying, sub-regional qualifying and finished first in their respective divisions at the regional qualifier at The Bear’s Club to earn a spot in the National Finals at Augusta.
Open to juniors between the ages of seven and 15, Drive, Chip and Putt participants compete in three skills (drive, chip and putt) and hit three shots per skill for a total of nine shots, with the overall champion in each division being determined by the participant with the most points between all three skills.
“It’s like a dream. I’m just so excited for it,” 14-year-old Nip said.
Nip will be competing in the 14-15 age division, while Pacheco will be in the 12-13 age division.
For the Nip family, golf is a family affair. The Hong Kong native first began playing the game when she was three years old. She picked up the game because her older sister, Gloria, played. Nip recalls grabbing her sister’s golf ball one time and her mom telling her to hit a few.
The Port Saint Lucie resident is a three-time winner on the Florida Junior Tour, winning three times in 2018. She has compiled six top-three FJT finishes, including a third-place finish at the Futures Championship in 2019.
This was the fifth time that Nip has tried to qualify for Drive, Chip and Putt. She advanced to the regionals after finishing first at the local and sub-regional qualifier at the Ledbetter Golf Academy. Nip earned the top spot at the regional qualifier at The Bear’s Club with 133 total points, finishing 16 points ahead of the runner-up.
This will not be the first time that Nip will head to Augusta, she has been there twice to watch her sister compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt finals in 2015 and 2018. Her sister, Gloria, will be on the bag for her this week.
“It’s going to be like a once in a lifetime thing,” Nip said. “I’m going to do my best and try to make my sister proud.”
Pacheco got started in golf with a set of plastic clubs when she was young. She started going out to the course with her dad and soon fell in love with the game, beginning to compete in tournaments when she was seven years old.
“I just love swinging the golf club and being out on the course with my dad,” Pacheco said. “It’s super calming to be out there in nature”
Pacheco is a two-time winner on the Florida Junior Tour, with her most recent win coming last August. She has put together four top-three FJT finishes, and finished inside the top five at her first 13-15 event in March.
This was the fourth time that Pacheco has tried to qualify for Drive, Chip and Putt. She advanced to the regionals after finishing first at the local qualifier LPGA International and second at the sub-regional qualifier at TPC Sawgrass. Pacheco took the top spot at the regional qualifier at The Bear’s Club, finishing four points ahead of the runner-up with 123 total points.
Like many others, Pacheco’s interest and love for the game grew after watching Tiger Woods compete on TV. Now she will make her way to Augusta for the first time this week, a place where Woods has had so much success.
“It’s definitely a dream come true to go there,” Pacheco said. “It’s very inspiring and I think it will definitely fuel the rest of my career.”
The Drive, Chip and Putt finals will be broadcasted on Sunday on the Golf Channel from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
