I really enjoy golf. It’s a fun game to play with other people and compete with other people. It takes a lot of practice because golf is not an easy sport.”

Denali Yonkee

TORRINGTON – Each year on the Sunday before the Masters Tournament in Georgia, talented young golfers compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt (DCP) national finals at the world-renowned Augusta National Golf Club. 

The Masters Tournament, the United State Golf Association and the PGA of America organized the first DCP national competition in 2013 to promote youth interest in golf and provide opportunities for youngsters to highlight their driving, chipping and putting skills at Augusta – hallowed ground where greats like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods played.

The DCP nationals are aired or livestreamed across the country, picked up by folks in small towns like Torrington – 1,570 miles from the Augusta National Golf Club. Torrington second-grader, Denali Yonkee, happened to be one of the viewers tuned into the event each spring.

“I first discovered (DCP) when I saw it on TV three years ago,” Yonkee said. “I asked my dad if I could compete in the open qualifiers. He said that I needed to practice more. I told my dad that I wanted to compete in the qualifiers again this year. I was very happy when he said, ‘Yes.’”

Yonkee took the first big step in the DCP nationals when she snagged first place in the 7- to 9-year-old division at a local qualifier hosted by Three Crowns Golf Course in Casper on June 16. Yonkee also punched her ticket to compete at the DCP sub-regional tournament in Aurora, Colorado, on August 10.

If Yonkee places in the top 12 at Aurora, she will progress to the regional championships in Minnesota in September – one step closer to her dream of competing at Augusta.

For now, however, Yonkee is celebrating overcoming the first hurdle in the process and taking things “one step at a time.”

Three fundamentals of golf

Yonkee and her family showed up to Three Crowns Golf Course early on the day of the competition to get the lay of the land. Sunny, bluebird skies greeted the athletes.

In an unusual turn of events, the wind in Casper “was not too bad,” said Yonkee – just a “little breezy.”

Hundreds of young golfers converged in Casper for the qualifying tournament.

“There were kids everywhere,” said Yonkees’ father, Daniel.

Plenty of spectators also lined the driving range and greens where the golfers competed, adding to the distractions. Focus is crucial in golf and is no easy task for any athlete to master, let alone a golfer going into the third grade.

“You need to have your eye on the ball all the time,” Yonkee said. “You can’t have your head up, looking around everywhere.”

Yonkee goes through a routine before taking her turn driving, chipping or putting.

“I listen to music to calm me down and I think positive thoughts and practice swinging,” she added.

DCP competitions test golfers in the three fundamental areas of the sport – driving, chipping and putting. Contestants get three shots in each skill for a total of nine shots on the day. The shooting distance for the driving portion is between 100 and 120 yards, while the chipping is done at 15 yards and the putting from six to 30 yards.

The “most challenging” skill for Yonkee is putting.

“You’ve gotta have the right stroke and stance,” Yonkee said.

Yonkee described driving as a “little hard.”

“You’ve gotta hit the ball with the middle of the club and hit it far so it gets closer to the hole,” Yonkee added.

Participants in the tournament receive points for each shot and the cumulative total in each of the three skill areas determines a golfers’ final standing on the leaderboard. The contestants help the judges calculate their scores, adding another golf tool to their skillset, Daniel said. 

Yonkee advanced to first place on the leaderboard in the youngest age division (7-9) with 69 overall points. The second-place finisher, Ryan Corbett of Casper, tallied 51 points while third place went to Sheridan’s Faith May at 50 points.

Yonkee enjoyed the experience in Casper and as the only golfer from Goshen County, she appreciated making new friends from other communities.

“It’s fun to meet other people and see how well they do,” Yonkee said. “It’s a fun experience to golf on a different course.”

The early bird

Yonkee began her golfing career at the tender age of four. She quickly graduated from plastic clubs to metal ones.

Yonkee hones her skills at the Cottonwood Country Club when possible, typically spending between one and two hours at the driving range or out on the greens per session. 

“You’ve gotta practice,” Yonkee said.

Yonkee works with her father on particular skills, like driving, where she learns to “bend my elbow versus keeping it straight.”

The young golfer participates in the local Junior Golf program in Torrington led by PGA professional David Dent. Dent has “really helped” Yonkee with her drive as well, Daniel added.

Yonkee uses an indoor putting green with a slope when the weather outside is uncooperative, especially on a particularly gnarly Wyoming winter day.

“It’s hard to see in the snow and when it’s cold, it’s hard to move around in a heavy coat,” Yonkee said.

Participating at the DCP qualifiers in Casper proved to be a considerable confidence builder for entering future tournaments, Yonkee said.

In addition to competing in future DCP events, Yonkee looks forward to joining the Wyoming State Junior Golf Tour when she becomes eligible next year. 

Futher down the road, Yonkee plans to become a Lady Blazer golfer in Torrington while keeping those sights on the dream of teeing off at the Augusta National Golf Club some day.

At the end of the day, though, golf comes down to passion.

“I really enjoy golf,” Yonkee said. “It’s a fun game to play with other people and compete with other people. It takes a lot of practice because golf is not an easy sport.”

Yonkee also enjoys playing basketball and soccer. Her hobbies include swimming, riding her scooter and playing with friends. Yonkee’s favorite professional golfers are Tiger Woods and Ricky Fowler.