For the third straight year, Kentucky will have a presence in both the Boys and Girls Divisions of the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals, which take place on Sunday, April 1st at Augusta National Golf Club. Trinity Beth of Calvert City, Kentucky and Jay Nimmo of Benton, Kentucky will be proudly representing the bluegrass state in the Girls 10-11 and Boys 14-15 divisions, respectively. Live coverage begins at 8:00 a.m. EST on Golf Channel and DriveChipandPutt.com.

Developed in partnership between the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America and the USGA, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free, nationwide youth golf development initiative open to girls and boys ages 7-15. Participants compete in separate divisions in four age categories – focused on the three fundamental skills employed in golf, tapping the creative and competitive spirit of young golfers.

Trinity Beth of Calvert City, Kentucky is making her first trip to Augusta National after successfully qualifying at The Honors Course last year. At age 11, she has already shot a round of five under-par 67 for 18-holes, carries a +2 handicap and was on the West Kentucky PGA Junior League team that won the state championship last year.

Jay Nimmo of Benton, Kentucky, will be making his second trip to Augusta in three years, thanks to a lethal short game. He successfully advanced to the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals for the Boys 14-15 division at The Honors Course. If you want to know how motivated Nimmo is to succeed in golf, he also plays basketball for Marshall County (Ky.) High School in the hoops-crazy Commonwealth. But when asked if he’d rather sink a last-second free throw to win the Bluegrass’s “Sweet 16” state title or capture his age group at the DCP National Finals, he answered, “Augusta.”

Local qualifying for the fifth season began in May, June and July, held at 268 sites throughout the United States. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys and girls divisions, advanced to 53 subregional qualifiers in July and August. Two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October, held at some of the top courses in the country. The top finisher from each regional site’s age/gender divisions – a total of 80 finalists – earned a place in the National Finals, which will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel. All local, subregional and regional qualifiers were conducted by the 41 Sections of the PGA of America, with PGA Professionals providing support at each facility hosting a qualifier.

At the National Finals, one champion will be named from each age/gender division. Each finalist will be scored based on a 30-point system, offering the player with the longest drive 10 points, the player with the closest cumulative chips 10 points and the player with the nearest cumulative putts 10 points, in each separate skill. The highest total composite score will determine the winner.

Trinity Beth (Calvert City, Kentucky)

AGE GROUP: Girls 10 - 11

Local Qualifying Site: Bowling Green, KY
Subregional Qualifying Site: Persimmon Ridge
Regional Qualifying Site: The Honors Course

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
I want to be on the LPGA Tour

Age Started Playing Golf:
6 years old

Lowest Score Shot (9 and/or 18 holes): 
67 (-5)

Home Course/Club: 
Calvert City Country Club

Handicap Index: 
+2

How did you become interested in golf? 
My dad was hitting in the yard and I picked up his clubs and started swinging it and I have loved the game ever since.

Have you participated in a USGA Championship or PGA of America event? If so, which one(s), when and how did you do? 
PGA Junior League, I was on the West Kentucky Bombers that won the state tournament in 2017 and played in the Mideast Regionals and finished 3rd

What is your biggest achievement in golf? 
Going to the Masters for Drive, Chip and Putt finals

Who’s the coolest player in golf and why? 
Jordan Spieth because he is always calm under pressure.

Jay Nimmo (Benton, Kentucky)

AGE GROUP: Boys 14-15

Local Qualifying Site: Bowling Green, KY
Subregional Qualifying Site: Persimmon Ridge
Regional Qualifying Site: The Honors Course

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
Professional golfer

Age Started Playing Golf: 
as soon as I could walk

Lowest Score Shot (9 and/or 18 holes): 
in competition: 31 for 9 holes, 66 for 18 holes; not in competition: 64 for 18 holes

Home Course/Club: 
Benton Country Club

Handicap Index: 
+1.0

How did you become interested in golf? 
I’ve just always been interested. Even before I could walk my parents would strap my car seat to the golf cart while they played. Once I started walking, I had my own club and played with them. I’ve been on the course my whole life.

Did you watch last year’s Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Television? If so, what impact did that have on your participation this year? 
Yes, knowing I was so close to making it back from the year before (I finished 2nd at the regionals) motivated me.

What is your biggest achievement in golf? 
Runner-up at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Owensboro in 2017

If you could choose to play golf with a dream foursome, who would the other three people be? 
George Bush, Phil Mickelson, Michael Jordan