Swan siblings reach Drive, Chip & Putt finals

ERIE, Pa. -- Two young North East siblings will get an opportunity to do something that most professional golfers never get a chance to do.

They will compete at Augusta National Golf Club during Masters week.

Of course, Isaiah Swan, 11, and Lydia Swan, 10, did not qualify for the Masters, one of golf's four major championships, and they won't play on Augusta's pristine course.

However, the Swans will go for national titles Sunday morning when they compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt championship at Augusta's practice facility.

Isaiah and Lydia will be among 88 finalists ranging from ages 7 to 15 in eight divisions. They are entered in their respective 10-11 age groups. Golf Channel will televise the event beginning at 9 a.m.

The Swans earned their spots in the national competition when they won at the Drive, Chip & Putt regional in September at Prestwick Village Golf Club in Highland, Mich. Their sister Anna, 8, reached the regional tournament in the 7-9 bracket and finished seventh.

The Swans and their parents, Mike and Stacy, also will get to stay at Augusta to watch the top pros during the Monday practice round.

(The Masters opens Thursday.) Mike Swan, who works at General Electric in advanced manufacturing, has longed to visit Augusta's hallowed course.

"This is my first time, so I was trying not to put pressure on the kids or anything to make it so I could get there," he said with a laugh while the kids practiced at Golf Evolution, 1002 State St., on March 25.

Lydia and Isaiah both played in the EDGA Flagship Junior Tour last summer, and both won one event in their age division, even though Lydia competed against the 13-to-15 girls. The Swan siblings started their journey at a sectional at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage, then got through a subregional at Quicksilver Golf Club in Washington, Pa.

Winning the regional against 10 other kids in each division was like negotiating Amen Corner at Augusta.

Each entrant is given three drives, three chips and three putts to accumulate the most points (1-to-25) based on getting the ball close to the hole when chipping and putting and distance and accuracy in driving. Isaiah Swan's 156 points (of a possible 225) were 32 better than the second-place boy, while Lydia Swan's 120 points beat the second-place girl by 18 points.

"I was excited, but at first, it didn't feel real," said Lydia Swan, who picked up the game when she was about 8. "But after that last score came up, I said, 'Whooo, I'm going to Augusta.' "

Mike Swan said that Lydia, whose favorite golfer is Jim Furyk, would go along when Isaiah practiced but would show little interest.

"She finally picked up a club, and immediately you can see that she has a great natural swing, and we didn't have to do anything with it," he said.

The Swans have plenty of opportunities to work on their games. They live in North East, just down the road from Green Meadows Golf Course. Their property extends 200 yards long and is 40 yards wide, which is basically a built-in driving range.

"I can get it to the back (of the property)," said Isaiah, whose current favorite golfer is defending and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. "It's nice that Green Meadows is down the road. My best score is even-par 72 there. We're all happy as a family to go to Augusta National, an awesome course. I will try my best and have fun."

Local teaching professional Dan Steen has been helping the youngsters.

"I don't have to work with them too much because they are such hard workers," said Steen, whose Villa Maria team won the PIAA Class AA girls championship in October. "Lydia, she's very strong -- a lot like the Moylan girls. (Kelly and Megan Moylan, former District 10 standouts from North East, now play at Lehigh.) They can hit it far, getting that leg drive.

"I help Isaiah to stay quiet with his swing, and for his size, he hits it very well, so the focus is on accuracy. They understand the game very well, and pick things up pretty quick."

In a way, they already have won by reaching Augusta. The 88 contestants and their families receive the royal treatment.

"Golf Channel came to our home and spent a couple of days with us and did a two-minute promo for the show," Mike Swan said. "What they do Saturday is have a big banquet, they do a presentation. Then you meet some of the Golf Channel personalities, some players and some members of the course."

That's only the beginning for the Swans, who compete Sunday and then watch the pros Monday.

This article was written by Bob Jarzomski from Erie Times-News, Pa. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.