Peachtree City sisters tee up for the Drive, Chip and Putt regional qualifier

Two Peachtree City sisters are swinging their way to the big stage this weekend after strong showings at a sub-regional youth golf competition in Savannah.

Nine-year-old Cherokee Ma took first place in her age group, and her 13-year-old sister, Cataleya Zhang, finished second, earning both a spot in the Drive, Chip and Putt regional championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida on September 6.

The competition isn’t a full round of golf, but a test of three key skills: driving for distance, chipping for accuracy, and putting from set distances. Cherokee shined in the chipping contest, while Cataleya’s steady putting secured her advancement.

Their family moved from California to Georgia three and a half years ago, and that’s when golf entered their lives. “We started from zero,” said their mother, Raran Ma. “My husband wanted them to learn golf because it’s a game you can play for life, and it builds patience and strength of mind.”

Practice has become a way of life for the sisters, who play at Summer Grove Golf Club in Newnan. Cherokee, a fourth grader at Kedron Elementary, says she enjoys putting alongside her sister. Cataleya, an eighth grader at JC Booth Middle, is already making waves—this summer she became the Ladies Club Champion at Summer Grove, competing against adults.

That victory came with a perk she never expected: her own reserved parking space at the club, complete with her name on it. “It’s pretty cool,” Cataleya said with a laugh. “I can’t even drive yet, but I have my own parking spot.”

For the sisters, the game is as much fun as it is hard work. Cherokee, who loves to chip, said she surprised even herself with her first-place finish in the sub-regional. “At first I didn’t think I was going to win, but I just kept trying,” she said. “Then I calmed down and got first place, which made me really happy.”

Cataleya admitted her sub-regional round didn’t start the way she hoped. “My drive was really bad and my chip was also super bad,” she said. “But when I calmed down, I made my six-foot putt, then my 15-footer, and I came really close on the 30-foot putt.” That strong finish secured her second place and a ticket to the regional.

Their journey hasn’t come without sacrifice. Cataleya played her first two years with a secondhand $10 set of clubs, and for nearly two years, the family has made monthly 3-hour drives to North Atlanta for 2-hour lessons with a youth-focused coach. “We just try our best to go further, step by step,” Raran said.

With a reserved parking spot at their home course, countless hours of practice, and the backing of family and friends, the sisters head to Florida carrying both excitement and hometown pride. At Sawgrass, win or lose, Cherokee and Cataleya have already given Peachtree City plenty to cheer about—and a shining example of where hard work and heart can lead.