‘Stay cool. Stay humble.’ Boise boy qualifies for golf event at Augusta National
For the average 11-year-old, the challenges presented by the 12th annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals would be intimidating.
But the stakes have been much higher for Owen Zaragoza in his own backyard.
The fifth-grader at Pioneer Elementary School in Boise once hit a trick shot around a tree onto the roof of the family’s shed, off the fence and into the hole on the putting green at his home.
“I didn’t see it. I’m like, ‘Where’d the ball go?’” Owen said. “I checked the hole, and I’m like, ‘How’d that go in?’ I went crazy.”
Now Owen is about to set foot on one of the most prestigious golf courses in the country.
He was one of 80 children to qualify for the national Drive, Chip and Putt contest, which will be held on Sunday, April 5, at Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters. The 90th playing of that major will take place the following week on the hallowed course that Bobby Jones built.
Owen was one of just 10 boys to qualify in the 10-11 age group after winning the regional round at the equally famous Pebble Beach Golf Links in September.
“I remember just being like, ‘OK, I’m going to Augusta. Stay cool,’” he said. “When you get into the car, you can let it out. Just stay cool. Stay humble.”
Owen’s dad, Adam, accompanied him on the trip to California and had a front-row seat for his son’s triumph. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
“It was a little surreal and unbelievable,” Adam Zaragoza said. “He made the third chip. He made the first putt, barely missed the second putt, and then he hit the third putt, and I remember texting (my wife) Anna being like, ‘Holy cow, I think this might actually happen.’
“Six or seven players were left, and the scores kept coming in. I was sitting there watching it and pacing, going back and forth, and it went final. It was a little surreal.”
Owen was 2 years old when he received a plastic set of golf clubs from his grandmother. When the plastic balls that came with the set got lost or chewed up by the dog, Owen didn’t slow down, instead taking aim at the pine cones in his backyard.
His twin sister, Abby, often served as has his target.
“We were all targets at some point in time,” his dad said.
Owen graduated to a real set of clubs at 3, and played his first hole that same year on the nine-hole course at Three Island Crossing in Glenns Ferry.
He joined the BanBury Boomers, a youth golf training program held at BanBury Golf Course, at age 5, and began competing in the U.S. Kids Golf program by the time he was 7.
“I like meeting new friends and going to these really awesome places, like going to Augusta,” Owen said. “It’s just super fun.”
The entire Zaragoza family will be going to Georgia in April for Owen’s big day. The participants compete Sunday and then get to watch the pro golfers’ Masters practice round on Monday.
The Drive, Chip and Putt competition will air live on the Golf Channel beginning at 6 a.m. Mountain time April 5.
“It’s gonna be really something that I will hopefully, definitely remember,” Owen said. “I really want to do good, because that’d be super awesome.”
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 4:00 AM.
