![\"Cassie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753072629_453_960x0.jpg\")
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Cassie Sengul (Coordination Impairment) started the final round of the U.S. Adaptive Open with the … More lead, but a final round 83 dropped her to fourth place.<\/p>\n
USGA <\/p>\n
Sinking a birdie putt on 18 in the third and final round of a national golf championship to finish in a tie for second place may not be on par with hitting a walk-off home run or catching the game-winning touchdown. But for 25-year old Bailey Bish (Coordination Impairment), making that 12-foot putt at the recent United States Golf Association\u2019s (USGA) 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open Championship<\/a> on live television in front of friends and family was cause for celebration. The defending overall women\u2019s champion shot the best round of the day (73), and while not enough to catch eventual two-time winner Kim Moore (Lower Leg Impairment), Bailey\u2019s dramatic comeback from a second round 82 put her in contention for a repeat.<\/p>\n The weather on day two was an added impairment for the entire field.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a 7-hour round and it was 111-degree heat index with the humidity,\u201d said the Tucson native. \u201cI had some issues with my POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and got very lightheaded.\u201d<\/p>\n Bailey also suffers from dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions. The combination of the two disorders affects her body control of blood flow and heart rate and also impacts temperature regulation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut my coach Susie Meyers always says \u2018beware of the sick or injured golfer\u2019 and I was very excited that I was able to play the final day and put up a good score.\u201d<\/p>\n Bailey Bish swings as coach Susie Meyers looks on while holding Bailey’s crutches.<\/p>\n USGA<\/p>\n The Field<\/p>\n Bailey\u2019s was just one of the compelling stories at the 4th U.S. Adaptive Open held recently at Woodmont Country Club <\/a>in Rockville, MD. The three-day, 54-hole, stroke play event featured 96 of the best adaptive golfers from 34 states and 10 countries, competing for the overall men\u2019s and women\u2019s title, and honors in eight individual impairment categories.<\/p>\n It was a diverse field in gender, disabilities and age, with the youngest competitor just 16 years old and the oldest 75.<\/p>\n A WR4GD Pass (World Ranking for Golfers with Disability) was required to qualify and compete, and a World Handicap System\u2122 Handicap Index of 36.4 or less.<\/p>\n This year a cut after round two narrowed the field to the top 20 overall men, top 10 overall women, top 3 men from each Impairment Category, top 2 women from each Impairment Category, and any player within 5 strokes of their Impairment Category leader, and ties. A total of 42 players made it to the final round.<\/p>\n Woodmont Country Club will also host the 2026 U,S. Adaptive Open.<\/p>\n USGA<\/p>\n Adaptive golf is not \u201cless than\u201d able-bodied golf. It\u2019s actually \u201cmore than.\u201d These talented athletes contend with \u201cmore than\u201d just the course or weather. They also deal with physical, cognitive or sensory impairments that impact their game, sometimes from day to day, moment to moment. Wheelchairs, crutches, custom golf clubs, grip devices, braces, prosthetics and seated\/stand golf carts are among the assistive devices that help some of them compete.<\/p>\n But make no mistake. This was a field of elite amateur and professional competitors who have triumphed in state, local and even international tournaments, playing high level golf. Overall men\u2019s winner, Kipp Popert (Coordination Impairment), for example, posted a tournament-record 61 in the first round. He went on to shoot a record 24-under par to win his third consecutive U.S. Adaptive Open by a remarkable12 strokes.<\/p>\n Brandon Canesi, born without arms, plays to a 4.7 handicap. He was a member of U.S. team in the … More inaugural Cairns Cup in 2022, winning all his matches.<\/p>\n USGA Stunning Woodmont CC, in the first of a two-year term as championship site, undertook significant renovations to host the adaptive golf event. Bunkers were redesigned with seated players in mind. Ramps were created with at least one point into every bunker where a seated cart could enter and exit. Multiple tee boxes were also in place to equalize the playing field among the eight impairment categories.<\/p>\n Said Bailey, \u201cIt was an absolutely beautiful course, the nicest one I ever played. The USGA and Woodmont really thought about everything when it comes to the adaptive needs.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cI think it really gave everybody a chance to win the tournament and to play well, like a seated player could win the tournament. I think that’s really how adaptive golf should be.\u201d<\/p>\n Added good friend Amanda Cunha (Visual Impairment), who tied with Bailey for second place overall, \u201cI would say the condition of the course blew us out of the park, how beautiful and manicured the fairways and greens were.\u201d<\/p>\n Prime time exposure<\/p>\n For the first time in tournament history the final round aired live on Golf Channel<\/a>, introducing viewers to adaptive golf and the exceptional athletes in competition.<\/p>\n Excitement outweighed nerves as they showcased their skills on a national stage. Most of the adaptive or disabled community is not on the golf course and these golfers want to change that. They understand the assignment.<\/p>\n \u201cAdaptive golf is one of the minorities that you can become a part of any day,\u201d explained Amanda, who has no central vision due to a condition called Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. \u201cDisability is one of those things that can happen to anybody, whether it’s an accident or genetic mutation, anybody can be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Amanda Cunha’s dad lines her up for every shot off the green.<\/p>\n USGA The competitors are vocal about encouraging others to hit the links. Each is an ambassador for the sport, responding to social media DMs, emails and in-person inquiries. They generously share their personal challenges and tips with anyone who either has or knows somebody with impairment issues.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting to share my experiences and just help people feel like they’re not alone is one of the biggest honors,\u201d expressed Bailey.<\/p>\n Amanda, who is incoming captain of the University of Arizona Adaptive Golf Team, would definitely like some company, especially in her impairment category.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m always looking for people and especially women who are visually impaired who would like to be golfers so that we can have more people showing up at these tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n Her advice to potential adaptive golfers? Stick with it.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if you try out the sport and you get discouraged from not seeing the results immediately or, you know, within the first month or two, it really takes time to work at it. And all of us, we may seem like we’re shooting in the 70s, but it’s taken us years.\u201d<\/p>\n Bailey is a perfect example. She could barely complete a nine-hole round, much less a 54-hole event. But after pushing herself to build strength and endurance, she competed in her first U.S. Adaptive Open and finished third in 2023. The following year, she pulled out a win.<\/p>\n Vince Biser is a 7-time North American One-Armed Golfer Association Championship. He was born with … More utero cerebral palsy and suffered a stroke in the womb that left him without full use of the right side of his body.As a teen, he underwent drastic brain surgery to control seisures.<\/p>\n USGA The adaptive golf community is one of joy, friendship, collaboration, support and, of course, competition.<\/p>\n Joked Amanda about tying with Bailey, \u201cI keep telling her and her family, I’m like, you know what? Next year it’s going to come down to the playoffs between the two of us and that’s going to be really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Brandon \u201cNubz\u201d Canesi (Multiple Limb Impairment), who was born without hands, added, \u201cWe all have different stories on how we found the game of golf or on how golf found us. But you know, at the end of the day, that’s what we all have in common and it’s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n The 33-year old prolific social media influencer<\/a> has seen friendships grow as players come across each other more and more on the growing adaptive golf circuit.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever we see each other, it’s like no time has passed. Golf brings us all together and we all want to do win and see each other do well.\u201d<\/p>\n Cassie Sengul was the overall women’s champion at the inaurural Arizona Adaptive Golf Championship. … More She will return to Phoenix in December, 2025 to defend her title.<\/p>\n Candace Oehler While most adaptive golf competitors have no corporate backing, Brandon\u2019s social media presence and on course talent led to his becoming a Cobra Puma professional adaptive brand ambassador, featured in the company\u2019s YouTube \u201cGo Chase More\u201d<\/a> series. Bailey has had the support of Walt Conger and Click Control Marketing since 2022, even before she could play complete rounds of golf.<\/p>\n For the majority, however, there may be free club fittings and discounted clubs, or free hats and accessories, but little financial support. Some top golfers don\u2019t even try to qualify for certain events, knowing the cost of travel \u2013 to the qualifier and then a return trip to the tournament \u2013 would be prohibitive.<\/p>\n In a monumental display of support this year Deloitte<\/a>, the official professional services sponsor of the USGA, provided travel-related stipends for participating U.S. Adaptive Open players. It was a surprise move that was greeted enthusiastically by the competitors and their families, many of whom had never had the opportunity to see their loved one play tournament golf.<\/p>\n Event and individual sponsorships will be critical in elevating adaptive golf to the larger stage it deserves.<\/p>\n Of the 40 WR4GD ranked adaptive tournaments in 2025, the Chicago Adaptive Open and World Golf Village Adaptive Championship are the only ones to offer prize money, purses of $30,000 and $50,000 respectively.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a topic that came up often in conversations with the Adaptive Open athletes.<\/p>\n Said one, \u201cGetting purses would go a long way to ensure that more adaptive golfers are able to go to these tournaments. Sponsors could see that it’s a good investment of their time and resources. And having purses would also give credibility to the sport and show that adaptive athletes really are elite athletes and we’re very good at what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n What other changes might benefit the game? Veteran competitive adaptive golfers have some interesting suggestions.<\/p>\n Recognizing the complexity in ensuring a level playing field with so many impairment categories and skill levels, one golfer suggested the possible creation of two tours \u2013 amateur and professional, and an official governing body to oversee the sport.<\/p>\n Brandon thinks long term. \u201cMy biggest goal is that it becomes a legit tour. In my mind, I don’t see any reason why within the next five or 10 years we don’t have Golf Channel coverage at all the biggest events. Or why we don’t have purses and bigger sponsors and contracts, just like the pros. You know, we’re just another level of golf.\u201d<\/p>\n Another competitor mentioned the pace of play issue the first two days of the tournament. It\u2019s a difficult one to resolve because the groupings were mixed \u2013 men and women with multiple differing impairments teeing off from staggered tees. The challenge is to retain diversity among the groups, but somehow increase the pace.<\/p>\n Woodmont Country Club and its members treated the competitors to a first-class experience.<\/p>\n USGA The USGA has been instrumental in growing adaptive golf. So have organizations like the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance<\/a> (USAGA), United States Disabled Golf Association (USDGA), the American Disabled Golfers Association (ADGA), North American One-Armed Golfer Association, and U.S. Blind Golfer Association.<\/p>\n All are lobbying for adaptive golf to be included as a sanctioned sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. It\u2019s a long shot, but there\u2019s no doubt it will eventually join the other 29 sports.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the season is in mid-swing, with upcoming championships in Michigan, Toronto and the Phoenix Cup in September at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix, AZ, an international match play event featuring Team USA versus Team Europe.<\/p>\n
\nThe Scene<\/p>\n
\nInspiring others<\/p>\n
\nCompetition and Camaraderie<\/p>\n
\nShow Me the Green<\/p>\n
\nThe 19th Hole<\/p>\n