Augusta, GA
Young Aiken golfer finishes second in chipping portion of Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National
AUGUSTA, Ga. — With hundreds of kids vying for a coveted spot in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, it’s not often a local golfer earns a start time at the iconic golf course.
And on April 6, Shane Strickland had the support of every Aikenite outside of the ropes in his debut appearance in the kids’ tournament. He said the support meant a lot to him but he knew he had to stay locked in on each section as cheers came from the crowd.
“I felt good,” he said. “I also wanted to smile but I knew I had to stay focused.”
Shane finished tied for seventh place with a second-place finish in the chipping skill thanks to a shot that put the ball just two feet and nine inches from the hole. His success in chipping came just in time after a shaky start in the driving portion.
The 9-year-old was fifth in line with two chances to drive the ball as far as possible within bounds at the Augusta National tournament range. While Strickland kept it in bounds for a 151.01-yard on his first attempt, he missed the lines to stay in bounds on the second one, giving him one point for the skill.
For the second and third skills, chipping and putting, each participant is given two tries to get the ball as close to the hole as they can. The distances away from the hole are added together for their final score on that section.
Shane’s father, Chase, supported him through the day as his caddie. He said his biggest focus between driving and putting was to keep Shane’s confidence up.
“I told them that it looked like he got nervous and he told me ‘I got nervous,’” Chase said. “He told me how he felt and I said, ‘Well, your short game and your putting is where you thrive, so just take it calm, stay calm, take it slowly, and enjoy it the best you can.”
After refocusing, he started out with the 2’9” chip shot and followed it up with a shot 5 feet, three inches from the hole to give him the lead with a combined score of eight feet. As the other children came up to do their chips, Shane’s name continued to top the leaderboard.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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