Ten-year-old Muskegon golfer expected to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Regional Qualifier

By John Jarvi

Local Sports Journal

HIGHLAND, MI — Karli VanDuinen, of Muskegon, is expected to be one of the players competing Saturday, Sept. 6 in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Regional Qualifier at Prestwick Village Golf Club.

VanDuinen, 10, qualified for the regional by finishing second in the 10-11 age group in the second round of action at the tournament on Aug. 23 at Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek.

The regional lineup involves 80 players, including 30 from Michigan. The winners in each of the four age groups will earn a spot in the National Drive, Chip and Putt finals event scheduled for April 5, 2015. The finals will start on Sunday, April 5 at the beginning of “Masters Week” at Augusta National Golf Club  in Augusta, Ga.

The competition involves boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 15 years. The regional qualifier will start at 1 p.m. Saturday for boys 14-15 years of age and continue through a 4:30 p.m. start for girls ages 7-9.

Earlier this summer, VanDuinen won the girls under-14 age group in the James Henderson Memorial Match Play golf event in Muskegon County.