{"id":595309,"date":"2026-04-10T18:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T18:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/595309\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T18:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T18:28:10","slug":"12-year-old-ontario-golfer-fresh-off-augusta-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/595309\/","title":{"rendered":"12-year-old Ontario golfer fresh off Augusta National"},"content":{"rendered":"

12-year-old Audrey from Woodbridge recounts her experience competing in the Drive, Chip, Putt challenge at Augusta National. <\/p>\n

For 12-year-old Audrey Lu, stepping onto Augusta National\u2019s famed greens was as challenging as it was unforgettable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, being able to hit a putt on the 18th hole at Augusta, and the course is in great shape,\u201d the Woodbridge, Ont., native said during an interview with CP24 Breakfast.<\/p>\n

Lu competed this week in the Girls 12\u201313 division at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, a nationwide junior development competition run by the Masters Tournament Foundation, PGA of America and the U.S. Golf Association (USGA). Finalists advance through multiple qualifying stages for a chance to perform on golf\u2019s biggest stage during Masters week.<\/p>\n

While Augusta is known for its beauty, Lu said it was the speed of the greens that stood out most.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would definitely say the greens are really, really fast. I definitely had an experience on the 18th hole. The greens are lightning fast, and the course is just so beautiful,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

She also had a chance to take in the course ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to the practice round on Monday with my friends, and I walked the course. Everything is so nice there.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a media release<\/a>, Golf Canada said Lu \u201cshowed flashes of the putting confidence that helped her reach Augusta,\u201d holding her own against an elite field. <\/p>\n

While none of the four Canadian competitors reached the podium, all left with what the organization described as valuable experience and confidence.<\/p>\n

\"\"GOLF CANADA Canadians Audrey Lu alongside Nathan Khera, competing in Boys 10\u201311, Yien Li In the Boys 7\u20139 division and Evelyn He in the Girls 10\u201311 division at the 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals (GOLF CANADA PHOTO). Practice, routine and a bigger goal<\/p>\n

Behind the Augusta appearance is a rigorous routine, Lu explains. <\/p>\n

\u201cOn the weekdays, I actually practice every day. So after school, I go to my academy, it\u2019s from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m… I practice for three hours every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

On weekends, she shifts to on-course play.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then the weekends, I go to my home course, the Thornhill Club, and I play usually around 18 holes to just get swings out and enjoy golf.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lu said her putting routine centres on reading the green and visualizing the shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a pre-shot routine, so first I would go behind the ball, and then I would look at the slope\u2026 And usually I would just line up the ball to the hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her long-term goal is already set.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really hope that next time I see Augusta National, it\u2019s in the Augusta National Women\u2019s Amateur. Super excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local season tees off in Toronto<\/p>\n

Lu\u2019s rise comes as golf participation continues to grow across Toronto.<\/p>\n

The city officially opened<\/a> its five public courses Friday \u2014 Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Humber Valley, Scarlett Woods and Tam O\u2019Shanter \u2014 marking the start of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

City data shows roughly 250,000 rounds were played in 2025, a record high, with more than 15,000 rounds by junior members alone. <\/p>\n

Officials say expanded programming this year includes free clinics, youth camps and discounted green fees aimed at making the sport more accessible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"12-year-old Audrey from Woodbridge recounts her experience competing in the Drive, Chip, Putt challenge at Augusta National. For…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":595310,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[443],"tags":[712,49,48,622,82],"class_list":["post-595309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-apple-news","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=595309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=595309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=595309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=595309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}