It’s not the Masters, but Jacob Olearczyk of Barneveld will be one of 80 junior golfers competing at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in the ninth annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, on Sunday, April 2, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.

Conducted in partnership with the USGA, Masters Tournament and PGA of America, the event is a free, nationwide youth golf development program open to boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age divisions. The three-tiered competition tests the skills essential to playing the game — accuracy in driving, chipping and putting.

Olearczyk, a sophomore member of the Holland Patent varsity boys golf team, qualified at the regional event sponsored by the PGA at TPC Boston on Sept. 17, in the age 14-15 bracket. He took first in the driving and chipping competition.

The national title event will be nationally-televised prior to the start of the Masters.

Tens of thousands of contestants attempted to qualify in three stages from the U.S. and Canada. Olearczyk will be one of 80 competing at Augusta — 10 in his age bracket.

Olearczyk, is no stranger to championships. He won the 65th New York State boys’ 14U junior championship last year. He also won the tournament in 2021.

This type of competition is different than a tournament, he said. “You go into it in a different mindset.” The event is broken up into the three skills, so it’s not like a typical round where a drive leads to an approach then a putt or two. Here competitors do all the driving, then all the chipping then all the putting. “It has its pros and its cons.”

Olearczyk said he knows what he can lean on amongst those skills. “Usually my chipping is a strong point.” Overall, in these events, “I just try to focus on the moment, what I have to do. I try to keep it simple and not get too far ahead of myself.”

This year’s qualification had a bit of added pressure, noted his father, Mark Olearczyk. It was Jacob’s sixth attempt to qualify, and he’d been getting closer and closer each time but hadn’t won his way to the national event. This year was his last chance because he’d be too old after that.

“It was sort of surreal and kind of hard to comprehend in the moment,” said Jacob after his qualification. He said he’s watched the national event for years, “so to get to be a part of it is pretty amazing.”

The national event will take place at one of the most recognizable courses in the country. And of all the courses Olearczyk has played from local public courses to places where PGA events have been played, “None of them really compare to Augusta and how gorgeous it is there,” he said.

The competitors and their families travel to the event on the PGA’s tab. Olearczyk is going with his parents. He and the others will have dinner with and practice rounds alongside the golf pros there for the Masters. Olearczyk said he’s most looking forward to a chance to see Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas. “I find aspects of my play style in what they do so hopefully I can relate to them.” He’s met Thomas before but not Koepka.

He said though he intends to enjoy the unique experience, “I’m not quite content” just qualifying. So, he said, he’ll be soaking it all up but also playing to win.

Olearczyk, who also plays basketball and soccer at HP, said he’s hoping his success on the links helps him earn a scholarship to play golf in college.