2026 National Finals Leader Board

AUGUSTA, Ga. (April 6, 2026) – Three talented young golfers from the Carolinas stepped onto the world’s most famous stage this weekend, competing in the 12th annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Representing the Carolinas PGA Section, these girls earned their spots after a grueling qualifying journey that concluded at the historic Pinehurst Regional this past September.

While the leaderboard didn’t fall in their favor this year, the experience proved to be the memory of a lifetime for Zoe Crosby (South Carolina), Adalyn Lupton (South Carolina), and Elizabeth Guthrie (North Carolina).

A Weekend of Tradition and Celebration

The National Finals experience began on Saturday, as the girls checked in and enjoyed a practice session at a local course to fine-tune their games before the bright lights of Sunday. That evening, the juniors, their chaperones, and immediate families were treated to a welcome reception, fostering a sense of community among the 80 finalists from across the country.

Sunday morning began “bright and early” with the iconic drive down Magnolia Lane. For many, this moment—the first glimpse of the clubhouse through the canopy of trees—is when the reality of competing at Augusta National truly sets in. After a long day of high-stakes competition on the range and the 18th green, the pressure was traded for fun at the DCP Carnival, featuring bouncy houses, food, and plenty of ice cream.

The weekend concluded on Monday, as the girls walked the course as patrons during the first official practice round of the Masters Tournament. Armed with their DCP pin flags, the juniors collected autographs from several PGA TOUR stars, capping off a beautiful weekend of golf.

Carolina Highlights

  • Elizabeth Guthrie (Charlotte, NC): Competing in the Girls 14-15 division, Elizabeth provided the highlight of the day for the Carolinas by placing 1st in the Drive competition. Her power off the tee mirrored the performance that earned her the top spot at the Pinehurst Regional.

  • Adalyn “Addie” Lupton (Tega Cay, SC): Returning for her second National Finals, Adalyn’s experience showed as she navigated the nerves of the Girls 12-13 division.

  • Zoe Crosby (Simpsonville, SC): In the Girls 7-9 division, Zoe’s resilience shone through as she realized a five-year dream of making it to Augusta.

In Their Own Words

“It’s been amazing,” said Zoe Crosby. “I’ve been trying for five years and I finally made it. I was a little bit nervous, but once I got the hang of it, I started believing that I could win. My favorite memory was when I got [it] close on the 15-foot putt and knew I had a chance. I’m going to try to win it again next year!”

“It’s a great experience, and I really hope that I can try again next year and come back to do better,” added Adalyn Lupton. “The walk out onto the range is just such a cool experience. Everybody’s cheering and the bleachers are full. It’s definitely helpful to have seen all the shots [before].”

The Road Ahead

The Carolinas PGA remains immensely proud of these three ambassadors. Their journey from Pinehurst Resort to the 18th green at Augusta National serves as an inspiration to all junior golfers in the region.

Registration for the 2026-2027 Drive, Chip and Putt season is already open. For those looking to follow in the footsteps of Zoe, Addie, and Elizabeth, local qualifying information can be found at www.drivechipandputt.com.