Disabled Golf Open Championships to tee off in Midlothian

MIDLOTHIAN, VA (WWBT) - The second annual United States Disabled Golf Association Open Championships are less than two weeks away and will tee off at Independence Golf Club on May 14.

This year’s event will see a spike in participants, as 74 players from nine countries are entered in the tournament. This is quite a rise, after 48 players took part in the 2018 inaugural championships in Orlando. Five female competitors are also part of the field this time around. Belgium, Sweden, England, Costa Rica, Canada, Denmark, Mexico, Argentina and the United States will all be represented.

Golfers with impairments such as amputations, blindness, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis will compete. While the tournament will feature elite golfers, anyone with physical or intellectual impairments is eligible to enter.

Organizers are hoping to create a PGA-like atmosphere for the tournament, and with the number of players coming in, they’re looking for more volunteers. USDGA founder Jason Faircloth says another 20-30 volunteers will help make this event a big success.

“We want this to be like a PGA Tour event, with ball spotters, official scorekeepers, and people to kind of help these guys get along, because we don’t want to take all day to play,” said Faircloth.

Volunteers who can serve as caddies are also being sought by tournament personnel.

The 36-hole USDGA Open Championships run from May 14-16 at Independence Golf Club. Volunteers can register online. For more information on the tournament and the USDGA, visit the USDGA website.

Copyright 2019 WWBT. All rights reserved.

Submit a news tip.