At 15 years old, Peyton Landon is already building an impressive golf résumé, and she’s just getting started. A ninth-grade student at Timnath Middle High School, Peyton lives with her family in the Ptarmigan neighborhood, where golf has long been part of daily life. “We’ve lived in Ptarmigan for seven years,” Peyton said. “We moved from California when I was in second grade. My dad loves golf and always liked living near golf courses, so it worked out perfectly for me and my love for the game.”

 

Peyton lives with her mom, dad, twin brothers, and her golden retriever puppy, Maverick. When she’s not on the course, she’s focused on school, where English is her favorite subject. “I like English because it lets you be creative and really think,” she said. That same focus and creativity show up in her approach to golf.

 

Peyton has been playing golf for three years and competed on the Timnath Middle School Golf Team throughout middle school. She quickly emerged as a standout, winning district championships in both seventh and eighth grade. Her team also captured district titles both years, making those seasons especially meaningful. “It was really special to win individually, but winning as a team made it even better,” Peyton said.

 

Her success extends well beyond school competition. Peyton won the 13-and-under Colorado State Championship and placed 15th in her first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event last June. Still, one experience stands above the rest.

 

“I recently qualified to be one of the 80 finalists, 40 girls and 40 boys, to compete in Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta,” Peyton said, smiling.

 

The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a national skills competition that tests three parts of the game: driving, chipping, and putting. Competitors advance through three stages, local, sub-regional, and regional, before earning a coveted spot at Augusta National Golf Club on the Sunday before the Masters.

 

Peyton began her journey at her local qualifier at Fort Collins Country Club in May, advanced through the sub-regional round at Thorncreek Golf Course in August, and earned her place at Augusta by winning the regional qualifier at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota in October.

 

“Hazeltine was probably the most intense experience,” Peyton said. “It was really windy during practice and the day of the competition. I was in one of the last groups to go, and right as I was starting my first drive, there was a huge boom of thunder in my backswing. Then the horn blew, and we had a weather delay.”

 

After the delay, competitors were given only a few minutes to warm up before resuming. “Once it was my turn again, I just tried to stay calm and trust what I’d practiced,” she said.

 

One of the most emotional moments came after Peyton realized she had won. Her mom was with her in Minnesota, but her dad, whose lifelong dream has been to visit Augusta, was back home. “I called my dad and told him I get to take him to Augusta to be my caddy,” Peyton said. “That was really special.”

 

This year marked Peyton’s third time competing in Drive, Chip and Putt. Her first attempt advanced all the way to regionals in 2023 at Castle Pines Golf Club, where she admits she didn’t play her best. “I learned so much from that experience,” she said. In 2024, her run ended in a scorecard playoff at the sub-regional level. “It was disappointing, but I gained confidence and experience that helped me this year.”

 

Unlike traditional tournaments, Drive, Chip and Putt competitors hit just nine total shots, three drives, three chips, and three putts, making every swing count. “It’s so different from playing holes,” Peyton explained. “You have to perform under pressure right away.”

 

That pressure has helped shape her game. “I’ve gained so much confidence hitting shots under pressure through Drive, Chip and Putt,” she said. “It’s made me a better golfer overall.”

 

Looking ahead, Peyton hopes to continue developing her skills and has clear goals beyond high school. “I want to play golf in college,” she said. For younger kids in the neighborhood who are thinking about playing sports, her advice is simple and honest: “Golf can be stressful, but always remember to have fun.”

 

With talent, determination, and a love for the game that’s been growing since childhood, Peyton Landon’s journey is only beginning, and the fairways ahead look bright.