Indian Valley stage set for 2nd GAP Adaptive Championship
Building on the success of the inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship a year ago, it’s time to welcome some of the world’s finest Adaptive athletes back to the City of Brotherly Love. The 2nd GAP Adaptive Championship will take place Oct. 6-7 at Indian Valley Country Club in Telford, Pa.
| Event Portal | Nlareb, Sengul capture inaugural Championship | inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship video | The Final3: Indian Valley | 2025 Digital Championship Program |
The event’s format is 36 holes of individual stroke play across two days. This is a WR4GD-counting event. Spectators are welcome.
John Choyka, an Indian Valley member since 2005, served on GAP’s Executive Committee from 2012-18. He is the 2025 GAP Adaptive Championship Tournament Chair.
“Indian Valley and its membership and staff are thrilled to host this year’s event, especially since two of our members are in the field,” Choyka, 74, of Telford, Pa., said. “My hope is that all players, their families and guests will feel welcome by our membership and staff and find the golf course a challenge but fair.”
Men’s and Women’s Overall champions will be crowned as well as winners in each of the 16 disability classifications. A trophy presentation and a complimentary cocktail reception follow Round 2 of the tournament. The 60-player field consists of some of the world’s premiere Adaptive Golfers from the GAP Region and abroad. There are 15 states and three countries, including Canada, Colombia and the United States, represented in the field. Competitors need not hold a GAP membership.
A pair of wire-to-wire champions headlined the event’s inaugural edition. Issa Nlareb of Cameroon captured the Men’s Overall title with an even par two-round total. His win came less than a week removed from hoisting hardware in the Texas Adaptive Golf Championship. Cassandra Sengul of Manassas, Va. took the Women’s Overall title at 31 over par.
“GAP was my first adaptive win. It was my first year of Adaptive Golf too, so that was really special,” Sengul, 19, said. “The staff and everybody there was just amazing.”
Sengul, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder affecting movement and balance, plays in the Women’s Neurological impairment category. Sengul is unfamiliar with Indian Valley. She will play a practice round on Sunday prior to the championship in preparation for her title defense. Nlareb is not in the field.
“My health has been great. I’ve just been making sure I try to go out and play every day to keep my body moving and active,” Sengul, who also triumphed in the inaugural Arizona Adaptive Open last year, said. “[If] I just play the golf I know I’m capable of [playing,] I think I can get the job done.”
Tee times begin Monday at 8 a.m. Sengul tees off alongside Kelsey Koch of Grand Blanc, Mich. and Nancy Lee of New York, N.Y. at 10:24 a.m.
With its hosting of the GAP Adaptive Championship, Indian Valley continues to shine as a championship-caliber venue within the GAP Region. Past GAP championships at IVCC include the Junior Boys’ Championship (2015), Open Championship (1984) and Middle-Amateur Championship (1986, 1999). Indian Valley has also played host to a share of local USGA-championship qualifying events.
“Indian Valley Country Club has gone above and beyond this year for the 2nd GAP Adaptive Championship,” GAP Manager of Adaptive Golf Anna Kittelson said. “Their support of GAP and our Adaptive program has been unwavering.”
A collective of approximately 80 volunteers will assist during both days of competition. Volunteer positions include rules officiating, starting, ball-spotting, scoring and player support.
Founded in 1952, Indian Valley Country Club was created by four Landsdale, Pa. residents in search of a private golf experience close to home. The group arranged for the purchase of Fisher’s palomino horse farm and turned the land into a golf course. The club gets its name from the property’s definitive slopes pitched toward Indian Creek. The original William Gordon layout was restored by A.H. Green Design in 2020. This past spring, the practice putting green underwent an expansion. A learning center is also available at the club and features target greens and a separate chipping and putting area.
“Players will find [the course] a demanding test of ability. Our small greens and false fronts can play havoc on a player’s short game,” Choyka said.
Championship activities begin Saturday. A No Limit Clinic begins at 2 p.m. No Limit Clinics allow both new and existing Adaptive Golfers free access to professional Adaptive Golf instruction. A welcome dinner Sunday evening precedes Round 1 tee times.
“Players can expect a lot of camaraderie at this year’s event,” Kittelson said. “We have done a ton of work promoting this event to our local Adaptive Golf community encouraging individuals to come out and watch the event.”
GAP Magazine highlighted the inspiring world of Adaptive Golf in its Spring 2023 issue titled Beyond Limitations. Andrew Austen appeared on the cover of that issue. He is also in the field for the GAP Adaptive Championship.
Live scoring for the championship will be available on gapadaptive.org and gapgolf.org. Stay up to date with tournament news via GAP social media channels by following @gaofphilly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.
All media inquiries should be directed to GAP Director of Operations Martin D. Emeno, Jr. at memeno@gapgolf.org or by phone at 610-687-2340, ext. 0027.
GAP Adaptive
In 2024, GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia) launched GAP Adaptive to continue its mission of promoting, preserving and protecting the game of golf for all. GAP’s Adaptive Golf committee opened the season with its first program titled No Limit Clinics, a season-long series of instructional Adaptive Golf events taking place at various GAP Member Clubs. The GAP Adaptive season culminates with the GAP Adaptive Championship, a WR4GD-counting event. The field consists of local and international Adaptive Golfers.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 130,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
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