Long Island's Sophia Li Set for Drive, Chip & Putt Finals
Li is presented with her medal at Winged Foot Golf Club in last fall's Regional final.
Sophia Li of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., is one of eight Met Area natives set to compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals on Sunday, April 7. Li, who plays out of Trump Golf Links - Ferry Point, began playing the game with her father at the age of six. Li first competed in Drive, Chip and Putt in 2014-15. The following three years, Li advanced to the Subregional round and this year advanced to Regionals at Winged Foot Golf Club, where she punched her ticket to Augusta National.
Related: Q&A with DCP National Finalists Nathan Drogin & Owen Walsh
After having previously advanced to the Drive, Chip and Putt Subregional multiple times, which parts of your game improved most to help you advance to the National Finals?
I think that my putting improved a lot from the past years. I was able to get the pace of the greens down and read the breaks well.
What do you think was the key to your performances and consistency throughout the Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying rounds?
I think the key to my consistent performance was how I was able to control my nerves and get through the shots. Having my nervousness and also excitement under control allowed me to focus on my shot instead of fretting about possibilities in the future.
The excitement of being so close to advancing to Augusta must have been hard to contain, how did you stay focused during Regionals?
While at Regionals, I didn’t think much of going to Augusta, as it was my first time qualifying for Regionals. Still, the thought lingered in the back of my head. I knew that being too excited would affect how I played, so instead of thinking of Augusta, I thought of how to hit my shots.
Do you have any additional competitive experiences that helped you keep calm during Regionals?
I do feel that past competitions, inside and outside of golf helped prepare me for the Regionals. I knew how to calm myself down and focus on the task at hand.
What will your practice look like leading up to April’s National Finals?
I am making sure that I hone my putting skills and my short game skills by practicing on and off the course. I make sure to visit the driving range at least two times a week, and maybe more as the weather gets warmer.
What is your earliest golf memory?
My earliest memory of golf is playing at the First Tee. I distinctly remember being six years old and standing on the practice putting green doing drills with other kids my age. I had just started golf and loved the game.
Do you have any goals set for your game this summer? If so, what are they?
A goals I have for this summer is to shoot under par in an eighteen hole round. I hope I can improve my short game and accuracy of my short irons, leading to a better score.
What are you looking forward to most about competing in the National Finals at Augusta National?
I’m looking forward to seeing and experiencing the Augusta National course. I am also excited to compete in the Finals for the first time.
2019 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finalists
| Name | Hometown | Division |
| James Bradley | East Hampton, N.Y. | Boys 12-13 |
| Nathan Drogin | Essex Fells, N.J. | Boys 14-15 |
| Rayhao Feng | Short Hills, N.J. | Boys 7-9 |
| Megha Ganne | Holmdel, N.J. | Girls 14-15 |
| Sophia Li | Fresh Meadows, N.Y. | Girls 10-11 |
| Alexandra Phung | Forest Hills, N.Y. | Girls 7-9 |
| Mihir Roperia | Cranbury, N.J. | Boys 10-11 |
| Owen Walsh | Goldens Bridge, N.Y. | Boys 14-15 |