How USGA gave back to help fund Wichita youth golfers during US Adaptive Open

It was a transformational experience for Sand Creek Station to host the third annual U.S. Adaptive Open, which brought the world’s best golfers with disabilities to Newton to compete for a national championship.

The tournament wrapped up with a third round on Wednesday, as Kipp Popert (neurological impairment) won his second consecutive men’s title and Bailey Bish (neurological impairment) claimed the women’s medalist honors.

It was hard not to be inspired by watching nearly 100 golfers, ranging in ages from 15 to 78, compete with eight different impairment categories.

The prestigious United States Golf Association event being hosted in the Wichita area also will have a long-lasting impact. Back in October, the Greater Wichita chapter of First Tee, a nonprofit organization committed to teaching golf to kids, received an IDEA grant (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) to help with its mission.

The money allowed the organization to purchase a new set of clubs for around two dozen kids who were new to golf. They also received shirts, towels and hats from First Tee.

“There were some very excited kids,” said Corey Novascone, program director for the Wichita chapter of First Tee. “We all know that golf can be a pretty expensive game to get started in, so the parents and the kids were very thankful for that opportunity. They would previously have to borrow clubs from us and then return them at the end of class. Now they get to take them home. We were able to put the grant to very good use.”

Even though the U.S. Adaptive Open is over, World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Walters, who is paralyzed from the waist down, will host a free clinic for youth golfers on Friday at 10 a.m. at the headquarters of First Tee, located on the MacDonald Golf Course driving range, located at 1034 N. Roosevelt Ave.

Walters has toured around the world with his dogs to encourage young people to follow their dreams and strive for excellence. He will offer meaningful insight into the game of golf, as well as dole out life lessons.

“He puts on a fantastic show,” Novascone said. “No matter what is going on in your life, he shows that golf is a fantastic way to get involved in your community, hang out with your friends and it’s just a fun game that can teach you all sorts of things in life. It’s going to be a real treat for everyone who comes out.”

Walters was just one of many inspirational stories in Newton this week.

Popert, a 25-year-old from England who became the first male or female golfer to win two U.S. Adaptive Open trophies, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth.

He has quickly established himself as one of the best adaptive golfers in the world. He set the U.S. Adaptive Open scoring record with his 7-under round of 65 on Monday, as he coasted to a four-shot victory over Simon Seungmin Lee with a 54-hole, 14-under score of 202.

“When I’m 70 years old with a bottle of wine, I’m hoping and working towards being recognized as a great of the game,” Popert told USGA. “So I’ve got a lot more to achieve.”

Meanwhile, Bish has been diagnosed with dystonia, which is a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions. She told the USGA earlier this week that she couldn’t even play 18 holes as recently as two years ago because of the condition.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, overcame a slow start to hold on for a four-shot win over Kim Moore with a 54-hole, 8-over total of 224. Her 3-under round of 69 on Monday shattered the previous U.S. Adaptive Open women’s scoring record.

“I learned that it’s hard to play golf and even if there are challenges, you can push back and keep going,” Bish told the USGA. “The mistakes will get overwritten by other accomplishments.”

The following players also took home medals for being the winners of their respective categories:

• Bailey Bish, Tucson, Ariz. (neurological impairment, women)

• Mike Browne, England (lower limb impairment, men)

• Amanda Cunha, Kaneohe, Hawaii (vision impairment, women)

• Annie Hayes, Lee, Mass. (seated players, women)

• Kiefer Jones, Canada (vision impairment, men)

• Brendan Lawlor, Ireland (short stature, men)

• Simon Lee, Republic of Korea (intellectual impairment, men)

• Kim Moore, Battle Creek, Mich. (lower limb impairment, women)

• Issa Nlareb, Cameroon (multiple limb amputee, men)

• Kipp Popert, England (neurological impairment, men)

• Natasha Stasiuk, Canada (intellectual impairment, women)

• MaxTogisala, South Ogden, Utah (seated players, men)

• Rose Veldman, Los Angeles, Calif. (multiple limb amputee, women)

• Cathay Walch, Buford, Ga. (upper limb impairment, women)

• Chris Willis, Canada (upper limb impairment, men)