U.S. Adaptive Open Championship comes to Kansas

NEWTON, Kan. (KSNW) — Pro and amateur golfers from around the world are in Newton this week for the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship .

This is the tournament’s third year and its first time here in Kansas.

The golfers have all sorts of impairments from visual to intellectual. There are 96 golfers competing in the field ranging in age from 15 to 78.

Thirty-two U.S. states and 11 countries are represented this week.

Head golf professional at Sand Creek, Josh Akers, said they have been preparing for months. He said they love hosting big events like this to showcase their entertaining course.

“It’s such a blessing,” said Akers. “An incredible opportunity to show this world of adaptive golf, which is such a blooming community. “It’s amazing. It just sends chills up your spine. The stories you get to bear witness to during this championship are incredible. Some of the things that these players have been able to triumph over.”

There are 5 separate yardages for gender and impairment level. To qualify, golfers have to have an eligible impairment and a handicap below 36.5.

Golfers teed off at 7:30 Monday morning. The championship runs through Wednesday.

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