CANBY, Ore. — An Oregon teen is living the dream after recently winning the national golf competition Drive, Chip and Putt championship.
Connor Holden, 14, from Canby had a dream visit to the Augusta National Golf Club. He took part in the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition.
"I've done, Drive, Chip and Putt since I was seven or eight," Holden said. "Haven't made it to the nationals until this year."
This year, it all came together. He blasted a drive 276 yards, chipped to within a foot of the pin and then putted well enough to seal the victory in the 14- to 15-year-old category.
Holden said it was fun but nerve racking.
"I was hoping to win. I was expecting to do good but it took a lot of luck to win, I would say, definitely," Holden said.
The trip to Augusta was amazing for Holden; he got to watch the practice round before the Masters and walk the course.
"It was pretty awesome," he said. "I mean the grass is so nice it looked fake."
Holden started hitting a golf ball when he was about 2 to 3 years old. He's had success winning junior tournaments and has big goals in mind. He has ideas of where he'd like to be in the future.
"I would definitely hope to get into the Masters, even as an amateur, in the next five years, by the time I’m 20, if I'm really good out of college or something," he said.
For now, he's content to practice at both Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby and Langdon Farms where he takes lessons from Bruce Furman. He also plays with friends.
"It's really fun and it feels great when you score good. I have three really good golf friends that I love with my whole heart; they're my best friends," he said. "Don't know what I'd do without them."