HOPEWELL JUNCTION\u00a0\u2014 A 10-year-old boy from Dutchess County is preparing to take his exceptional golf skills overseas after placing second in a national competition earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Mario Vilardi has been playing golf practically since he could walk. From swinging plastic clubs to competing on the same course where the Masters is held, the Hopewell Junction youngster has come a long way in his short life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe started going to the driving range with me and my father when he was age 3,\u201d Mario\u2019s father, David Vilardi, said. \u201cI started taking him on the course around 4 or 5.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mario began competing in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments five years ago, and earlier this year, he qualified to compete at the 2026 National Drive, Chip & Putt tournament\u00a0\u2014 the only boy from New York to do so across four age brackets.\u00a0To qualify, Mario had to make it through three local and regional tournaments to become the Northeast representative for the boys in the 10- and 11-year age group.<\/p>\n
Held at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia on April 5, the Drive, Chip & Putt tournament is not a typical golf tournament, David Vilardi said. Competitors are scored separately on each skill\u00a0\u2014 driving, chipping and putting\u00a0\u2014 and an overall score is calculated. Mario took first place in the chipping round and second overall against nine boys from across the country. He lost by just one point.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was beyond amazing, and it was more hilly than I imagined,\u201d Mario Vilardi said of the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mario\u2019s triumph has been an inspiration to his classmates, younger siblings and teachers, Fishkill Plains Elementary School Principal Amy Fazio said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes us so proud to see our children\u2019s hard work pay off,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was so heartwarming to hear how his classmates supported him and cheered him on.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino gave Mario a special proclamation to celebrate his achievement.\u00a0<\/p>\n