There is a rich history in the game of golf for one having the last name Nelson. The legendary Byron Nelson picked up golf as a pre-teen and became so proficient at the game that he won 52 times as a professional, highlighted by five major championship titles. He is also considered one of the 'Big Three' (with Ben Hogan and Sam Snead), credited for ushering in the glory days of professional golf. Larry Nelson (no relation) is a local legend, having graduated from North Cobb High School in 1966, who went on to win ten times on the PGA Tour, including three major titles.

Now, Finley Nelson (no relation), a young golfing prodigy like Byron, who hails from the Cobb County School District like Larry, hopes to follow in the massive footsteps of the Nelsons before him. Finley is a third grader at Eastvalley Elementary School who recently won the Regional Qualifier for the Boys 7-9 age division of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. With this win, Finley advances to the National Finals that will be played at Augusta National Golf Club in the days leading up to the 2026 Masters Tournament. Unsurprisingly, he and his family are ecstatic.

Finley Nelson receives his gold medal

“We were all in shock,” his mom Colleen recalled about the moment that she and her husband, Clark, realized Finley had clinched the win in his age group. 

“The amount of love, pride, and excitement was unbelievable, and knowing that the next stop is Augusta was almost unfathomable."

“I’m very excited to go to the Masters, and see it ,and actually get to play on it,” Finley said. “You have to be the best of the best to get there, and it’s very prestigious.”

Finley’s Eastvalley classmates and administration have enjoyed celebrating his accomplishments as well. His principal made sure the entire school knew about the big news. 

“We highlighted him on the morning news with a huge congratulations,” said Dr. Whitney Spooner, “Afterwards, an announcement was displayed on the screens throughout the building congratulating him. His classmates and teacher were so excited.”

Finley was greeted like a superstar, with his classmates treating his victory as if he had just won the Masters itself.

“Finley’s classmates were overjoyed,” agreed Calley Anderson, Finley’s homeroom teacher. “As soon as Finley told the class he had won the regional in Florida, the class could not contain their cheers. The whole class was jumping up and down.”

The young Cobb athlete is not ready for the spotlight of a Masters press conference yet, but he is grateful for the support of his classmates.

“I was very happy that they were all cheering for me,” Finley said sheepishly.

The support of the school community has given Finley's mom another reason to smile.

“It is so heart-warming to see his classmates and school rally around him and share in the excitement and show their support,” Finley’s mom added. “It meant the world to Finley that his teacher and classmates made a good luck card and poster for him.”

The school's support started before the champion's return. Ms. Anderson’s class created signs to encourage Finley before he left for the tournament in Florida. His mom brought these gestures with the family to the competition as motivation for Finley. 

The Drive, Chip and Putt competition is a modified golf competition where scores are given based on the skill displayed with each individual type of shot. It’s similar to darts in that proximity to the target determines the score received. The closer to the target a competitor’s ball stops, the higher the score. Each competitor has three attempts at a drive, a chip and a putt. The cumulative points for these nine shots are the golfer’s final score.

Finley excelled in the chipping portion of the Regional Qualifier, receiving the top score (50 out of a possible 75) and a gold medal for chipping in his age group. The tee shot was Finley’s biggest challenge on the TPC Sawgrass course.

“You had to hit it under it a lot of trees, and if you hit it to the right or left, there was sand or rough,” he said, “and it was a rainy day, so the fairways were wet and the ball wouldn't roll that much.”

His mom also noted that Finley was frustrated with his putting on that day. After his final putt came up shorter than he would have liked, he told his mom that “he wished he could have one more putt.”

Finley’s overall final score of 108 put him in a tie for first place at the end of regulation. This meant that Finley and another competitor would have to determine the ultimate winner in a playoff. That playoff would be held on the putting green.

“I told him that this was his chance for one more putt,” his mom said. “But it actually turned out to be two extra putts in a double playoff. In the first round, he almost clinched it, but the other competitor barely made it into the same scoring ring. Then in the second round, Finley’s putt rolled into the 15-point scoring ring, and his competitor hit it too hard and it rolled further out.”

Finley was declared the winner. With the gold medal secured, his next step is now the Masters course in Augusta for the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals. His entire family, which includes an older sister and younger brothers, are excited about what’s ahead. Finley’s Eastvalley family is thrilled as well. While the next several months will be filled with golf swings in the back yard or at a nearby range in his free time, Finley will go back to being a successful student in the classroom.

“Finley is a very thoughtful, respectful, and dependable student,” Dr. Spooner shared, “He is soft-spoken, but very eager to learn.”

Her praise is echoed by his classroom teacher, who sees the same qualities every day.

“Finley is the most amazing student,” Ms. Anderson added. “He has such a steady, joyful and calm nature which brings happiness into the classroom. He takes on any challenge with a happy heart.”

That steadiness and willingness to take on a challenge serves Finley well on the fairways and around the greens of a golf course, too. With those characteristics, maybe one day Finley will join Byron and Larry in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Good luck in Augusta, Finley!