ATLANTA - On Wednesday, April 17, the Georgia State Golf Association and 34 players made history by participating in the United States Golf Association's inaugural qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas, July 8-10. The qualifier was held at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta, and was contested over the Magnolia course, utilizing four sets of tees for different impairment categories.
The USGA began hosting the U.S. Adaptive Open in 2022, with overwhelming success. The championship field for the first two championships was largely determined by the player’s Handicap Index. As entries continued to climb, qualifying became necessary to ensure high-caliber players could earn their spot into the championship. The third U.S Adaptive Open will have six qualifying sites in Florida, Indiana, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Georgia.
Qualifying spots would first be determined by the low medalist in the men's and women's divisions. Ford Martin of Nashville, Tenn., had the lowest score in the men's division, shooting a bogey-free 67, while Tessa Trojan of Canada punched her ticket to Sand Creek Station with an 87 in the women's division. Additional qualifying spots will be awarded after all qualifying sites have completed play, determined by impairment category and gender using the players' qualifying round scoring differential.
Luke Carroll of Old Hickory, Tenn., Cathy Walch of Buford, Connor Ennis of Wake Forest, N.C., and Deborah Smith of Rockford, Ill., began the day looking to make their third appearance at the U.S. Adaptive Open. Carroll got off to a hot start. The 2023 Georgia Adaptive Open overall champion began his round four-under through 5, scoring two birdies and an eagle. Carroll would finish with a 71, the second lowest score of the day. Walch finished second in the upper limb impairment category. She won the 2022 Georgia Adaptive Open women's division. Ennis was the medalist of the Short Stature division. Smith earned the low score in the lower limb impairment category, and she won the women’s division of the Georgia Adaptive Open in 2021.
To view the full qualifying results and photo gallery, click the corresponding buttons below.