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Opening Drive
Adapt and Thrive by CHRIS LANG
The U . S . Adaptive Open begins July 18 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club ’ s No . 6 Course , a culmination of years of work from the USGA to provide a premier national championship for the adaptive golf community .
The U . S . Disabled Golf Association has run championships for years , with two of the last U . S . Disabled Opens being held at clubs in Virginia — Independence in 2019 and Laurel Hill just last month . Those were a precursor to what has become truly an international event .
Interest in a national championship for the game ’ s best adaptive golfers has been bubbling for years , and the USGA ’ s massive marketing platform can only help this segment of the game continue to grow . The USGA received 299 entries for the 2022 U . S . Adaptive Open , and 96 players were selected to tee it up at Pinehurst .
Among them are two VSGA members — Belle Haven Country Club ’ s Judi Brush and Fredericksburg Country Club ’ s Grace Anne Braxton .
In this issue , Lisa Mickey profiles these two competitors , who have not let impairments slow
The USGA received 299 entries for the 2022 U . S . Adaptive Open , and 96 players were selected to tee it up at Pinehurst . Among them are two VSGA members — Belle Haven Country Club ’ s Judi Brush and Fredericksburg Country Club ’ s Grace Anne Braxton .
them down in pursuit of athletic excellence . Braxton is a familiar name to most in Virginia , as she ’ s found national and international success after pursuing golf through Special Olympics Virginia . This fall , she ’ ll be inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame , a testament to the impact she ’ s had on adaptive golf in Virginia .
At 80 , Brush is the oldest competitor in the field , and she ’ s thrived despite having her left leg amputated due to complications from surgery . I hope you enjoy reading more about these inspirational competitors , and we can ’ t wait to see them perform on the national stage at Pinehurst . Also in this issue :
• For two straight years , the pandemic deprived the VSGA of one of the best feel-good days of the year . On May 23 , though , VSGA Day returned to Richmond Country Club , and the VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation was able to honor some of Virginia ’ s top scholars with an interest in golf in person . Read more about the impressive 2022 class in this issue .
• The Golden Horseshoe is one of Virginia ’ s iconic courses , and the Williamsburg venue is celebrating its 75th year in 2022 . Jim Ducibella takes you inside how the club came to be , and he offers additional commentary on some of the interesting characters who have played at the club through the years .
Thanks for reading , and as always , my inbox is open for story ideas and suggestions !
State Open 2022 BY THE NUMBERS :
2
3
4 11 38 71
In the merged Open era ( 1984-present ), State Open champions who have also won on the PGA Tour : Lanto Griffin and Robert Wrenn .
Straight wins by amateurs after a seven-year run of wins by professional players .
Jack Montague , one of the three straight amateurs to win .
Players who have won the VSGA Amateur and State Open of Virginia in the same year : Mark Lawrence Jr . ( 2020 ), Tom McKnight ( 1985 ), Steve Smith ( 1979 ), Vinny Giles ( 1969 ).
Years between State Open victories for defending champion Evan Beck ( 2010 , 2021 ).
Years between Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Chandler Harper ' s first and last State Open victories . ( 1932 , 1970 ).
Age of PGA life member Dick Mast , who continues to defy his age and contend against the young pups in State Opens .
Dick Mast
Chris Lang , Editor clang @ vsga . org
CHRIS LANG ( 2 )
6 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY / A UGUST 2022
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