Three Augusta area kids had the Masters experience of a lifetime.

Fourteen-year old Amanda Lewis, 13-year old Brad Severson and 11-year old Ashley Severson were invited as special guests by Masters winner Mark O'Meara to the champions dinner at Augusta National on Sunday night. The three kids from Martinez are friends with O'Meara's children, Michelle, 11, and Shaun, 8.

``We've always stayed with the Lewis family during the Masters,'' O'Meara said. ``And then our next door neighbors (the Seversons) take great care of our kids. So my wife thought felt it would be really neat if all the kids could come to the champions dinner. It was our way of saying thanks.''

The champions dinner is an annual tradition at the Masters. It is held in honor of the champion on the evening of the final round of the tournament. The ultra-elite event is open to only the Masters champion, a small group of his family and friends, and members of the Augusta National.

``When I came home and told my mom about the champions dinner, she was jealous,'' said Lewis, who is a freshman at Greenbrier High School. ``I have been so excited and telling all my friends. I mean, this is something that we've never do again -- unless (O'Meara) wins again. He's going to win again next year.''

When it time to order food at the champions dinner, the group of kids got a special treat: The youngsters were allowed to bypass the normal menu and order off Tiger Woods' special menu. Woods had requested cheeseburgers, french fries and milkshakes at the pre-tournament champions dinner last Wednesday night.

``Shaun went up to his mom and asked if we could order off Tiger's menu,'' said Brad Severson, who is a seventh-grader at Riverside Middle School. ``She said it was fine. We all wanted the cheeseburgers and milkshakes because we didn't like the sea bass or crab cocktail.

Said Ashley Severson, who is a fourth-grader at Stevens Creek Elementary, ``The best thing about the dinner was that you didn't have to ask for more. If you didn't have enough french fries or something, (the waiters) would just go ahead and put more on your plate without asking.''

The champions dinner didn't start until nearly nine o'clock on Sunday night and lasted more than two hours. After finishing the meal, the kids chatted among themselves and looked at paintings on the dining-room wall.

``It was a little smokey in the room, but it was nice,'' said Ashley. ``It was nice just sitting there, watching all of the older people with their green jackets on. I really loved it. It was nice.''

Said Brad, ``It was just incredible. I had never been to a champions dinner before. There were a lot of green jackets there .?.?. you know, the owners and people like that. You just knew you were sitting in a room with people that had a lot more power than you.''

After the dinner was over, all the kids piled into the brand-new white Cadillac with Mrs. O'Meara and quickly departed from the grounds of Augusta National. When the group arrived at the rented house in Westlake shortly after midnight, another car followed behind in the driveway. It was Woods, who wanted to congratulate O'Meara again on winning the Masters.

A fitting ending to a magical evening.

``I think the kids were a little tired at the end (of the dinner); it was kind of a long evening, (but) something that they'll remember,'' O'Meara said. ``(Brad) was out there in front yard after watching the Masters on Saturday, swinging the club with a wiffle ball. I was out there giving him lessons. They were out on the course (Sunday) and then went to the dinner, so hopefully this will get his juices flowing to play golf.''