Midlands youth golfers among those advancing to Drive, Chip and Putt regional

Jonathon Nimmo missed a trip to Augusta National Golf Club for the 2017 Drive, Chip and Putt finals by the skinniest of margins. About one-half inch, he estimated.

He took a step Saturday to make amends, leading the competition in the boys’ 12-13 age group in the Drive, Chip and Putt sub-regional at Fort Jackson Golf Club.

Nimmo, a sixth-grader at Fulmer Middle School in West Columbia, joined 15 others in advancing to the Drive, Chip and Putt regional next month at the Honors Course in Ootlewah, Tenn. The winner in each age group there earns a trip to the finals at Augusta National in April.

Nimmo came close a year ago in the boys’ 10-11 age group. He missed Augusta by two points and, he said, “My putt stopped one-half inch short of the line that would have made me the winner.”

He left no doubt Saturday. He compiled 141 points to lead his division with the second best score in all age groups.

“I had a good day,” he said before rushing with his dad for a father-son tournament at Orangeburg Country Club. “We won it last year,” he said.

Teddy Dunn had a good day, too, finishing second to Nimmo in the boys’ 12-13 bracket to earn a trip to the regional. Like Nimmo, Dunn, a student at Ben Lippen, sparkled in chipping and putting.

“I’m looking forward to the regional,” said Dunn, who plays at Cobblestone Park Golf Club.

Two others who play at Cobblestone also advanced to the regional, Connor Wolfe in the boys’ 7-9 age group and Caroline Hawkins in the girls’ 10-11 division.

Advancing to the regional adds “to a good summer” for Wolfe, who finished fourth in his age division in the U.S. Kids’ tournament in Pinehurst, N.C. Wolfe, a second-grader at Bethel-Hanberry Elementary, said he plays twice a week to hone his game.

Like most players who advanced, strong putting paid dividends for Hawkins, who won her division with 96 points.

“I made one and got the other two close,” said Hawkins, a student at Montessori Magnet at Pontiac Elementary.

In a rarity, sisters Ella June Hannant and Zada Lee Hannant of Pikesville, N.C., finished one-two in the same age group, the girls’ 7-9.

The Drive, Chip and Putt program is a joint initiative of the Masters Tournament, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America aimed a growing the game of golf by focusing on golf’s fundamental skills. Boys and girls compete in four age groups through local, sub-regional and regional competition with the finals at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday prior to the Masters.

Drive, Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Results

At Fort Jackson Golf Club

These golfers advance to the Regional competition in the Drive, Chip and Putt program on Sept. 16 at the Honors Course in Ootlewah, Tenn. Points awarded for driving driving distance, chipping proximity to the hole and putting proximity to the hole to determine total score.

Girls’ 7-9

Ella June Hannant, Pikesville, N.C. …… 103

Zada Lee Hannant, Pikesville, N.C. ……. 67

Boys’ 7-9

William Barlage, Easley ………. 111

Connor Wolfe, Blythewood ……. 100

Girls’ 10-11

Caroline Hawkins, Columbia …… 96

Ella Kate Barnett, Galivants Ferry …… 87

Boys’ 10-11

Easton Cox, Aynor ……………118

Hudson Hatch, Daniel Island ……. 117

Girls’ 12-13

Ivy Schulze, Anderson ……….130

Mary Miller, Savannah, Ga. ……..118

Boys’ 12-13

Jonathon Nimmo, West Columbia … 141

Teddy Dunn, Blythewood ……. 122

Girls’ 14-15

Emma Curran, Greer ……….. 127

Emma Schimpf, Daniel Island …… 124

Boys’ 14-15

Luke Walmet, Mount Pleasant ……. 150

Maddox Whittington, Lenoir, N.C. ……. 134

This story was originally published August 25, 2018 at 8:19 PM.