Masters Week at Augusta National always delivers. But sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen before the first tee shot of the tournament is even struck.
On a stage that has hosted the greatest players in the game, three juniors from the Pacific Northwest – Roy Moon, Owen Zaragosa, and Ava Lee – stood under the same spotlight during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. For them and their families, it was more than a competition – it was a glimpse into what’s possible.
Behind moments like that are PGA coaches, parents, and mentors who make it all happen. Coaches like Ryan Young, PGA, at Chambers Bay; and Kevin Moon, Roy’s dad and a PGA Associate, who have poured time, energy, and care into helping these young players grow.
Moments like Augusta naturally lead to a bigger question: What does the future hold for Roy, Owen and Ava? They are so young! Will their success at reaching the Finals at the Drive, Chip and Putt be shown when they themselves, in 20 years’ time, capture the Masters, like Rory chatting about chipping into his mom’s washing machine for practice when he was a youth? Will they in turn become PGA coaches, telling stories to their future students? Or use what they’ve learned through the game in wherever their lives lead them?
And beyond that, what does the game of golf truly give a young person over time? We know the immediate benefits, such as communication skills, integrity, honesty, health, and confidence. The list goes on.
But what about the long-term impact? What are the downstream effects of programs like Drive, Chip and Putt and PGA Jr. League?
I was reminded of that recently after presenting at the 2025 Mentoring Conference. Shortly after, I came across a story that perfectly captures the lasting impact of this work.
At Missoula (Mont.) Country Club, Pacific Northwest PGA Section President and General Manager Chris Nowlen and his team – including PGA Section Secretary and Director of Instruction David Owens and Head Professional Connor Sproull – have long believed in PGA Jr. League. Year after year, they’ve invested in the program, building something that their membership values, and that they themselves are deeply passionate about.
Several years ago, they coached a group of young players who weren’t just teammates, they were friends. Summers were spent in team jerseys, competing together, learning the game, and having fun. Like so many PGA Jr. League participants, they progressed through the program and eventually reached the PGA Jr. League All-Star level.
That alone is a testament to great coaching and a program done right. But the real story came later.
As they aged out of PGA Jr. League, they didn’t leave the game, they carried it with them. When they stepped onto their high school golf team, they weren’t beginners – they were confident, capable, and prepared.
Years after those early days in PGA Jr. League, that same group helped lead their Sentinel High School golf team to the 2025-2026 AA State Championship. This victory didn’t begin in high school in Missoula, Mont. – it began years earlier, in a program built on fun, teamwork, and great coaching.
Next up for the Sentinel AA State Champs will be the 2026 Boys High School Golf National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C., July 18-20.
I can get caught up in the metrics, participation numbers, growth goals, program targets, and all that other behind the scenes stats. But stories like this, and moments like watching Roy and Ava compete at Augusta, are the reminder of why this work truly matters.
The trophies are great. The memories are lasting. But the real impact goes beyond that.
It’s in the confidence built over time, the friendships formed, the lessons learned through competition, teamwork, and perseverance. It’s in preparing young people not just to play the game, but to navigate life.
You never know where the kids in your programs will end up. But you can be certain of this: they are better because of the coaching and mentoring and urging of the coaches who make up the PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip and Putt programs.
To all the PGA Professionals and coaches, thank you for your dedication, your commitment, and the role you play every single day in growing the game.