Two Seattle-area junior golfers get their chance in the spotlight at Augusta National

One week before the greatest golfers in the world try to win the Masters, some of the top junior golfers in the country will get their day in the spotlight at Augusta National.

Eighty of the top juniors will compete Sunday in the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals that will be televised by the Golf Channel at the famed Georgia course, and two of those competing are Seattle-area players.

Niuniu Zhao, 13, from Woodinville, and Max Soterakopoulos, 9, from Everett, advanced through local and regional qualifying to earn their trip to Augusta.

It is something Zhao has dreamed from the time she started golfing when she turned 9. The first event she played in was a local Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier.

“Every year I’ve been working and getting one step further, so I’m really happy that this year I was finally able to get to the last level,” said Zhao, who will compete in the 12-13 girls division.

Zhao said she can drive the ball 240 yards, but she said her biggest strength is her chipping.

“I think it’s probably the most important [of the three skills] because that’s the differentiator,” she said. “That’s where you can get the most points.”

Zhao has a 2.2 handicap and regularly beats her father at their home course, Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville.

Each year, Zhao watches the Masters and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on TV. The ANWA final round this year will be Saturday, and Zhao will be there to see it in person.

“It’s such an honor to be able to play on such a historical and obviously prestigious course,” Zhao said. “Being able to watch both [ANWA and Masters practice rounds] in person is going to be really special.”

Win or lose Sunday, Zhao’s future seems very bright in a sport she loves.

“I like practicing,” she said. “I like hitting the same shot over and over again, trying to make my swing better, making the contact better and hitting it cleaner. I like the grind.

“I think there’s something that’s really peaceful about coming out to the course, and hitting balls over and over and focusing on one directive and just getting better.”

Soterakopoulos, who will compete in the 8-9 boys division, said he watched a couple of friends on TV compete last year in the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals.

“It looked like they barely tapped their putts,” he said.

So Soterakopoulos, who began golfing when he was 6, was determined to get his own chance.

Soterakopoulus, who said he drives the ball about 150 to 160 yards, has shot as low as 71 for 18 holes (about 4,400 yards from the tees he used). He said his biggest strength is his putting.

He said it took him awhile to start becoming good in the sport.

“I started righty and then I went to lefty because my lefty swing was better,” Soterakopoulus said.

Like Zhao, Soterakopoulus is familiar with Augusta National from having watched the Masters.

What is he most excited about going there?

“Walking on the golf course,” he said.