When Kipp Madison stepped foot onto the Augusta National Golf Club’s course Sunday morning for the 10th Drive, Chip and Putt competition, he literally was just glad to be there.
“I thought getting here was winning,” Madison said.
Thing is, he did more than just get there. The Evans native became the first Augusta-area competitor to win the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition, notching his victory in the 12-13 age group.
“I just can’t believe I won,” Madison said. “To actually (win) it is a dream come true. Just crazy because I qualified from the Golf Club of Tennessee, and it was a five-and-a-half-hour drive, and I was like, ‘I made it to Augusta.’ And then I won at Augusta. It’s just so exciting.”
Madison, 13, secured victory with a 252.7-yard drive. He also recorded 5 feet 8 inches chipping and 3 feet 11 inches putting. His younger brother Zane competed in the competition in 2022, so it only makes sense that he was able to lean on him for advice.
“He said whatever club you’ve been practicing with, just tick with it because that’s what you’re most comfortable with,” Kipp Madison said. “He told me how fast the greens are. I play at West Lake, and I played yesterday, and I thought our greens were fast, and then I got here, and I was like, ‘what?’”
Madison edged out runner up Levi Swanson by half a point. And although Madison didn’t have to travel quite as far as others he competed against, it still meant more to him than he could almost describe.
“To be only 15 minutes away and make it is just crazy,” he said. “But then to come here and win it is just another step of excitement. I mean, when I saw that I actually won here, I was like, ‘oh my gosh, this can’t be real, I’m in a dream.’ So I was just so excited. To win at Augusta is just a dream come true.”
