DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT FINALS Televised from AUGUSTA APRIL 7
Two Northern Ohio youngsters have reached the finals of the 10th annual Drive, Chip and Putt contest and will compete at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7th as a kickoff to the 88th annual Masters Tournament.
Canfield’s Preston Tolnar, a product of the Northern Ohio PGA’s Junior Golf Program, will compete in the 7-9 age group. Pepper Pike’s Flynn Lewis will compete in the 10-11 age group.
There are 80 finalists representing 31 states, one Canadian province, and one Australian resident.
The free, nationwide event is sponsored by the PGA of America, the United States Golf Association and the Masters Tournament. Players had to go through local, sub-regional, and regional qualifying. Players earned points for their performances in the three categories.
Both youngsters led all qualifiers in their respective age groups and qualified out of Scioto Country Club.
Lewis is the grandson of the legendary Bobby Lewis, one of the greatest amateurs to come out of Northeastern Ohio.
Tolnar is the son of Brian Tolnar, PGA, the Director of Golf at Mill Creek and was the 2023 NOPGA Junior Player-of-the-Year in the Boys 8-9 Division.
PRESTON TOLNAR
Age: 9
Hometown: Canfield
School: C.H. Campbell, Canfield School District
Club Affiliation: Mill Creek Metroparks Golf Course
Parents: Brian and Amber Tolnar
Qualifying route:
Local qualifier at Mill Creek
Sub-Regional at Westfield Country Club
Regional at Scioto Country Club.
FLYNN LEWIS:
Age: 10
Hometown: Pepper Pike
School: The Benjamin School (FL)
Club Affiliation: The Country Club
Parents: Tristan and Caroline Lewis
Qualifying route:
Local qualifier at Windmill Golf Center
Sub-Regional at Westfield Country Club
Regional at Scioto Country Club
