Colorado continues to play a big role in Drive, Chip and Putt history as three more Coloradans were crowned National Finalists. Two of their stories intersected with that of an industry professional on hand at regional qualifying.

By Gary Baines

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – Karma.

That’s the word George Solich, Castle Pines Golf Club board chairman and president, used in describing how Sunday’s Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier played out at the scenic course south of Denver. You see, Solich was presenting the awards for the event, and the first one went to Simon White, winner of the Boys 14-15 age group, who not only grew up in Colorado Springs, Colo. — where Solich did — but is attending the same high school, Cheyenne Mountain, from which Solich graduated in 1979. To add to the connection, the second National Finalist crowned Sunday, Girls 14-15 age group winner Landry Frost, also calls Colorado Springs home. Both Solich and his brother Duffy, the tournament chairman for the PGA Tour’s 2024 BMW Championship that will be played next August at Castle Pines, caddied at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and earned Evans Scholarships to the University of Colorado. “The first kid I get to send to Augusta (on Sunday), he went to the high school I went to — Cheyenne Mountain,” George Solich said. “And the next one was another Colorado Springs kid. That was pretty neat, pretty special.”

George Solich showing off a signed flag by all 96 Drive, Chip & Putt Participants.

In the second Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier hosted by Castle Pines — which also hosted the PGA Tour’s International from 1986 through 2006 — three Coloradans punched their tickets to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club set for April 7, 2024, by winning their respective age and gender divisions. That trio consisted of White and Frost as well as Girls 7-9 age group winner Sydney Liddell of Parker, Colo. Liddell, 9, doesn’t play tournament golf and advanced to the National Finals in her first time competing in Drive, Chip and Putt. “This is the first time I’ve tried to qualify. It kind of surprises me a little that I made it my first time,” said Liddell, who drained a 30-foot putt to cap off her day.

Frost missed qualifying for the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals last year at Castle Pines by only four points, making Sunday’s accomplishment all the sweeter. “It feels really good,” the 13-year-old said. “I’m super excited. I’ve been wanting to go for a long time.” Last year’s close call created extra motivation for Frost heading into this year’s regional. “When I saw that other people were getting interviewed and stuff, I was like, ‘I really want to be there,’” she said. “I worked extra hard this year.” While White, Frost and Liddell become the 14th, 15th and 16th Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalists from Colorado all-time, the Centennial State wasn’t alone in advancing three qualifiers from Castle Pines to the 2024 National Finals.

Girls 7-9 overall winner Sydney Liddell places her name on the leaderboard after the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

Nebraska, Colorado’s neighbor to the northeast, also is sending a trio from Castle Pines: Patrick Vilai of Grand Island from the Boys 12-13 age group, Anna Midyett of Bennington from the Girls 10-11 age group and Henry Amen of Imperial, who had his prayers answered in the Boys 7-9 division. Midyett advanced to the National Finals from Castle Pines for the second straight year. This past spring in her Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals debut at Augusta National, Midyett tied for third place in the Girls 7-9 age group. Asked if Castle Pines is good luck for her, Midyett said, “Yes, I think it is because I got a little ball marker from Castle Pines last year and it’s kind of become my good-luck charm.” In fact, she uses it during all her golf rounds. Vilai advanced to the National Finals despite the head and shaft of his driver breaking just before the competition started on Sunday.

“I think I hit it too hard,” he said. “I used my brother (Preston’s) driver for the competition. It felt really good. I did really good in the drive. I hit it 228 yards.”The only two National Finalists not from Colorado or Nebraska were Harlow Gregory of Norman, Okla., who put up the day’s highest overall point total (160) to win the Girls 12-13 age division and Brock Jernigan of Lebanon, Mo., who won the Boys 10-11 division.

Girls 7-9 participant Shepherd Choi signs her name on souvenir flags during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

Colorado has now hosted a Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier three consecutive years, with Colorado Golf Club doing the honors in 2021 (as well as in 2019) and Castle Pines taking over in 2022 and '23. “I think it’s a thrill for a lot of these kids and their families to come to Castle Pines. We do it right for them,” said George Solich, who plans to attend the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in April. “We have a little barbecue for the contestants and their families here the night before. They got to go in the pro shop and get a few items with Castle Pines on it. It’s just a beautiful setting for this. “Anybody that’s in golf loves the opportunity to get young people involved — and we’re no different. Our membership is just thrilled. They love coming out and seeing the kids; it’s inspiring to see. We think (Drive, Chip and Putt is) a fabulous organization to get young people involved from all over the country.”

Girls 14-15 overall age class winner Landry Frost stands for a portrait after the awards ceremony during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

About the Finalists

Simon White of Colorado Springs, Colo., winner of the Boys 14-15 division, doesn’t lack confidence when asked what he wants to be when he grows up.

“I want to win all four majors and be the greatest golfer in the world one day,” he said. “… I genuinely know I can get there because I have the drive for it. It’s a dream definitely out there, but I’m going to keep working and working. That’s what I want.”

Not surprisingly, White’s favorite golfer is Tiger Woods, and the Coloradan wore Tiger’s traditional red and black colors on Sunday.

“It means red numbers and also it’s kind of a sign of being a winner because Tiger has won 82 times on Tour,” White explained. “It gives me confidence to go out and win.”

Simon White looks over the leaderboard awaiting final results before winning the boys 14-15 class during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

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While many of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalists say they want to be professional golfers when they grow up, Girls 14-15 age group winner Landry Frost of Colorado Springs, Colo., is a notable exception.

“I want to be a pilot in the Air Force,” she said. “My dad is a pilot in the Air Force, and my grandpa served in the Army.”

Frost had plenty of family support on Sunday, including her mom, dad, two sisters, a great aunt and uncle and grandparents.
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The narrowest winning margin on Sunday came in the Boys 12-13 group, where Patrick Vilai of Grand Island, Neb., prevailed over runner-up Nicholas Melvin of Forest Lake, Minn., by a point, 152-151.

Vilai said he has tried Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying “pretty much every year,” but had never made it past the subregional competition.

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Harlow Gregory of Norman, Okla., said 2023 marked her seventh time giving Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying a go, and her first year reaching the National Finals. Indeed, she didn’t leave much to doubt, winning the Girls 12-13 age division by 15 points.

“It feels great. This is my seventh year trying this and I finally made it,” she said. “Last year here I was five points off because my chipping wasn’t good. But my chipping was outstanding this time. I worked really hard on it.”

Gregory lives on Belmar Golf Club, which is jointly owned by singer Toby Keith and former Oklahoma football head coach Barry Switzer.

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Brock Jernigan of Lebanon, Mo., the Boys 10-11 division winner, apparently was well aware of the date for the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, should he qualify — which he did.

“It’s pretty awesome because (April 7) is eight days before my 12th birthday,” said Jernigan, who has made it to regionals three straight years.

Jernigan had one of the longer trips to get to Castle Pines, time-wise. He said it took about 11-12 hours for the Jernigans to drive from their home in Missouri to Castle Pines, which turns out to be more than 750 miles one way.

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When Girls 10-11 age group winner Anna Midyett of Bennington, Neb., qualified for the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, one of the perks was an opportunity to meet her favorite player, Will Zalatoris, and get his autograph.

“I call him ‘Willy Zilly,’” Midyett said. “I got to see Tiger Woods and Rory walking to the driving range. That was cool. Then I got to meet my favorite golfer — Willy Zilly.” She said Zalatoris’ autograph was one of about 20 she obtained last year at Augusta National.

Girls 10-11 overall winner Anna Midyett hugs her mother as she watches the leaderboard and seeing confirmation of her overall age class win during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

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Boys 7-9 division winner Henry Amen of Imperial, Neb., said he has been playing golf since he was about 1 1/2 years old.

“I was given a plastic club,” he noted. “I play a lot of different sports, but this one is definitely at the top of the line.”

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Girls 7-9 age group winner Sydney Liddell of Parker, Colo., did no worse than a tie for first place in all three disciplines on Sunday. She was the only player to manage that feat at Castle Pines.

“I was confident. I know I’m good at the Drive, Chip and Putt,” she said after helping her cause considerably by holing a 30-foot putt on her last attempt. Liddell prevailed by 20 points in her division.

Liddell had one of the shorter commutes to Castle Pines as she said it took about 5-10 minutes from her house in nearby Parker.