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USGA
Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Grace Anne Braxton competed in the first two U . S . Adaptive Opens . She ' ll have to go through qualifying to earn her spot in 2024 .
US Adaptive Open Goes to Qualifying Model
The first two years of the U . S . Adaptive Open featured a hand-picked field of the top adaptive golfers around the world , including Fredericksburg ’ s Grace Anne Braxton , a member of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame .
As support and demand for adaptive golf has increased , so has interest in the national championship . The USGA announced in January that it will hold 18-hole stroke-play qualifiers in 2024 , with six Allied Golf Associations conducting the competitions . ( Check USGA . org for a full list of sites , which was not available at press time ).
The Florida State Golf Association , Georgia State Golf Association , Indiana Golf Association , Metropolitan Golf Association ( Conn ./ N . J ./ N . Y .), Southern California Golf Association , and Texas Golf Association will host qualifiers .
“ We have been thrilled with the interest in this championship and the growth of new adaptive competitions that it has inspired ,” said John Bodenhamer , USGA chief championships officer . “ As such , we have reached the point of introducing qualifying earlier than expected . In order to satisfy demand , we ’ re excited to roll out this new qualifying model , which will ensure high-caliber players are provided ample opportunity to earn a spot in the field and provide the championship the opportunity to embrace the openness that is a hallmark of USGA competitions .”
Online entries are being accepted at USGA . org and will close on Wednesday , April 10 at 5 p . m . Eighteen players are exempt from qualifying , including the overall men ’ s and women ’ s champions from the first two USAOs — Ryanne Jackson , Simon Lee , Kim Moore , and Kipp Popert .
The 2024 USAO will be held July 8-10 at Sand Creek Station in Newton , Kan . The event will move to Woodmont Country Club in Rockville , Md ., in 2025 and 2026 .
VSGA Welcomes New Slate of Officers , New Board Member
The VSGA ’ s Board of Directors approved its slate of officers for 2024 at its winter meeting in January at Hermitage Country Club . Brian Maloney ( Springfield Golf and Country Club ) will serve a two-year term as the association ’ s 40th President . Craig Groenendaal ( VSGA eClub ) will serve a one-year term at Vice President , with Vern Inge ( The Federal Club ) serving a one-year term as Secretary / Treasurer .
In addition , at the VSGA ’ s Annual Meeting , the membership approved Inge and Bev Lane as members of the Board of Directors , Class of 2026 . Inge is serving his second term . Lane is a newcomer to the board .
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vsga . org M ARCH / A PRIL 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 9