Fifth-grader Kate Bennett heads to Augusta for the Drive, Chip and Putt finals

Fort Worth's Kate Bennett is more nervous about maybe meeting Condoleezza Rice than the world's No. 1 golfer, Dustin Johnson.

But she'll get the chance to perhaps meet both at Augusta National Golf Club after qualifying for the National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship. Approximately 80 junior golfers will be competing at Augusta National on April 3. The Golf Channel will broadcast the event live.

Bennett, a Colonial member and 11-year-old fifth-grader, survived three rounds of qualifying and scored an 83 in the final stage at Southern Hills in Edmond, Okla., to earn the coveted berth.

10 days to @DriveChipPutt! Getting ready to do an interview with @CBSDFW! #DCPFinals #AugustaBound #golfgarb #skechersgolf #drivechipputt pic.twitter.com/Fwo0bDTLEx

— KateVBennett (@KateBennettGolf) March 23, 2017

"I think I'll be a little more nervous if I get to meet Dr. Rice because I have a few schools I'd like to play golf at, but it's a dream of mine to play at Stanford," Bennett said.

Rice, former secretary of state and national security adviser to President George W. Bush, is now a political science professor at Stanford. She's also an Augusta National member.

The nerves Bennett said she'll probably feel are something she's worked hard on to overcome.

A near-disaster in the first qualifier almost pushed her dreams of competing at Augusta back an additional year.

"I hit all three of my tee shots out of bounds so I got no points," Bennett said. "But I calmed down and hit some great chips and made some putts to finish second."

The rally was good enough at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson to move her to the regional round at Watters Creek in Plano, where she finished first.

That left just Southern Hills to negotiate for a trip to Augusta, four days before The Masters tournament.

"I've heard it's a beautiful place and once I get there, they say I'll always work really hard to try and come back," Bennett said. "But I feel really good about my game and I've been working really hard."

This article is written by Kevin Casas from Fort Worth Star-Telegram and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.