Bell shines at Drive, Chip and Putt Golf Nationals at home of Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — An area youth golfer recently received the opportunity of a lifetime to compete against some of the top youth golfers in the country.

Earlier this year, Anna Bell landed a spot at the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Golf Nationals, where she faced off last weekend against nine other participants from across the county at one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world, the Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament.

“Competing at this tournament was really cool,” Bell said. “I was fortunate to meet and watch a lot of different golf professionals as they prepared to play at the Master’s, so that was really great.”

Bell placed eighth in the girl’s 12-13 division and recorded her longest drive of 194.60 yards in the driving competition.

Playing on the same stage as your idols can be nerve-wracking for any golfer, but Bell was locked in and ready to play once the match started.

“I was a little nervous when I stepped onto the course,” Bell said. “Coming in and seeing how many people were there to watch me was very different, but as we started playing, I remained pretty calm as the competition went on.”

Bell felt she did pretty well in the driving and putting competition. Despite not finishing where she wanted, Bell said nothing could compare to the experience of playing on a massive stage and seeing some of the top golfers in the world compete, such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

For Bell’s father, Troy Bell, it was a dream come true watching his daughter play at Augusta National.

“For any avid golfer, qualifying for the Augusta Nationals is not easy because it’s so difficult to get there,” Troy Bell said. “The fact that my daughter was able to qualify for this and compete there is just amazing because it’s a golfer’s paradise.

The course is immaculate, and it’s always fun to watch all the players, but having the opportunity for us to see them in person was just remarkable.”

Anna Bell said competing at the Drive, Chip and Putt Golf Nationals has transformed her mindset regarding golf. After getting a taste of playing with elite competition, she’s preparing to return for the next tournament.

“I’m really motivated because I know I can do better than eighth place,” Anna Bell said. “I know I can get up to the top five at least, so I’m going start practicing really hard now and work on getting better every day, and I’ll be out there to make a run for the next qualifier.”

Bell said she hopes anyone who gets an opportunity to play at nationals can remain focused with all the people watching. Bell advises others to remain calm, tune everyone out and focus on their own game.