LAKEWOOD — Malia Schroeder, in just her third year of competing in the Drive, Chip and Putt Tournament, qualified to play at the national championships at the legendary Augusta Golf Club in Georgia.

She described her experience as “awesome.”

The competition took place at the Master’s Golf Tournament practice area. “Even the members don’t practice there,” said Malia’s dad, Kirk.

Malia, 12, said: “They gave us so many different opportunities that regular people that don’t go to Augusta wouldn’t get to go to.”

Those opportunities included meeting famous golfers like Gary Player and the host of the Golf Channel Charlie Rymer, and to stroll down Magnolia Lane and play on the course’s 18th green. She even got a picture at the banquet with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

World Golf Hall of Famer Player actually handed out the trophies.

“He told the kids about how thankful we should be for just getting this opportunity, and living in America,” she said.

The course was plush. “I had to look around before I stepped anywhere,” Malia said. “It looked like every piece of grass was sewn into the ground. Knowing that this place is open to so few people is really cool.”

She placed fifth in the nation in a three-way tie out of 10 golfers with a score of 15 points in the 12-13 age group. She scored three points in driving, three points in chipping and nine points in putting.

She struggled with her driving and chipping, but her putting was “solid.” Her proudest moment was finishing a 15-foot putt that was televised.

The winner was Kayla Sam of California, who scored 26 points and has a three-plus handicap.

Malia had a chance to talk to with Kayla. It was learning experience. And learning from others “is what the competition’s about.”

“I learned that they’re nervous too,” Malia said. “And some of their techniques were different from mine.”

Malia’s dad is also her coach, but he only golfs recreationally.

“She does work with a PGA professional every now and then,” if she struggles, Schroeder said.

Malia added: “It’s really exciting to know that all the practice and all the hard work we put in has progressed and has got me where I am now.”

She’s beat her dad on nine holes but is working to get him on 18. It helped that she “had a natural ability for it anyway.”

“My ultimate goal was to beat my dad,” she said. “I’m kind of there now.”

Malia plays the piano, too, which she said also takes discipline.

“You obviously have to work hard, and that’s with everything,” she said. “Piano, kind of gives you an idea on how to calm your nerves” when playing at recitals.

Malia has always liked sports, playing soccer and basketball. She and her younger sister, Kiana, started playing golf at an early age.

“Both girls started out pretty young, just to go out and have some fun — swing a club and ride in a cart,” Schroder said.

But then it progressed from there, as Malia took it more seriously.

“It’s terrible. I mean, it’s kind of depressing at times,” she said of her first time out at age 5. “I remember it wasn’t very easy. Then I got a little mad at it, and it made me even want to go out even more.”

Schroder said he just wants his girls to enjoy golf.

“It’s really up to them how far they want to take it,” he said. “We just want them to have fun.”