Carlock, Cunha hit jackpot in 3rd GAP Adaptive
NORTHFIELD, N.J. — A pair of new names has been added to the GAP Adaptive Championship trophies after the event’s third iteration concluded at Atlantic City Country Club Tuesday.
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Justin Carlock, an assistant golf professional from Eaton, Colo., held the keys to the Men’s Overall Division (par 70, 5,981 yards). He carded a 1-over-par 71 in Round 2 to finish at 1 under for the 36-hole tournament. He scorched the field by nine shots.
Amanda Cunha of Kaneohe, Hawaii held on with an 82 in Round 2 take the Women’s Overall Division (par 70, 4,448 yards) at 23 over par. The Aloha starter finished two shots ahead of two-time defending champion Cassie Sengul of Manassas, Va.
“It feels awesome,” Carlock, 31, said. “To come all the way out here from Colorado, [and] to pull it off feels awesome.”
“I’ve been waiting to win for so long now. I’ve been working really hard, and just the opportunity to play at such a beautiful event and a beautiful course means the world,” Cunha, 22, said. “The competition was so hard this week, so being able to buckle down and get it done means a lot.”
Men’s category winners:
(Above Knee: G1) Trevor Stephens, Greenwich, Conn.; (Below Knee: G2) Kyle Erickson, Minneapolis, Minn; (Multiple Limb: G3, G6, G7) EvanMathias, Indianapolis, Ind.; (Arm Unassisted: G4) Steven Shipuleski, Plainfield, Conn.; (Arm Assisted: G5) Justin Carlock, Eaton, Colo.; (Neurological & Coordination: G8) Mario Dino, Denver, Colo.; (Seated: G9) Stephen Kuketz, Quincy, Mass.; (Visual: G11, G12, G13) Tyler Cashman, Gold Canyon, Ariz.; (Short Stature: G14) Albert “Chaz” Bowker, Buellton, Calif.; (Intellectual: G15) Matthew Snowdon, Annapolis, Md.
Women’s category winners:
(Arm Unassisted: G4) Kellie Valentine, McKean, Pa.; (Arm Assisted: G5) Sophia Howard, Hudsonville, Mich.; (Neurological & Coordination: G8) Cassie Sengul, Manassas, Va.; (Visual: G11, G12, G13) Amanda Cunha, Kaneohe, Hawaii; (Intellectual: G15) Natasha Stasiuk, Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Carlock lives with the effects of amniotic band syndrome, a rare condition where the construction of his hands was inhibited during fetal development. He underwent reconstructive surgery as a child to restore partial hand function. The Adaptive-Golf newcomer’s first event was this year’s U.S. Adaptive Open at Woodmont Country Club (South Course), where he finished tied for third.
A cooperative driver was Carlock’s ace this day.
“The rough out here right now is very penal with how juicy it is from the rain we had a couple days ago. I don’t think they’ve had a chance to get mowers on it since, so fairways were an absolute premium this week,” Carlock, who competes in the G5: Arm Unassisted impairment category, said. “I think I only hit from the rough once or twice today, so it wasn’t too bad.”
Carlock went out in 2 over. Bogeys on Nos. 3 (par 4, 353 yards) and 5 (par 4, 414 yards) masked four birdies on his front side. On the former, he hit a sand wedge from 104 yards to three feet. On the latter, he hit an 8-iron from 160 yards to four feet.
He drew a face card on ACCC’s back nine with a bogey-free 34. He made a single birdie on No. 12 (par 3, 126 yards), site of another Carlock two yesterday, by way of holing a 15-footer after sticking a pitching wedge from the tee.
Carlock’s life experience aids him in his work as assistant professional at Eaton Country Club. His responsibilities include working in the pro shop, running tournaments and leagues and providing professional golf instruction. He describes the club as a tight-knit community that ardently supports his pursuit of Adaptive Golf.
“I like to feel that maybe I’ve overcome a tiny bit more than most, so maybe I’m more open and understanding to everybody’s different physical limitations,” Carlock said. “We’re all not going to swing it like Rory [McIlroy] as much as we all would like to, so I try to have a good understanding of, ‘Hey, this is what we have to work with, we’re not going to get to the tour more than likely, but how can we make you better right now with what we have to work with?’”
Now an Adaptive Golf champion, Carlock wants to share the experience with others.
“I truly don’t think I’ve ever played in anything that is as tight-knit and camaraderie-driven as these events,” Carlock said. “The amount of people I’ve met just since Woodmont has been unbelievable, and everybody’s very tight on social media, everybody’s cheering each other on. It’s really special.”
Cunha is a familiar competitor on the GAP Adaptive fairways. She won her impairment category in the inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship in 2024.
Cunha is a blind golfer who lives with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. The rare condition causes degeneration of the optic nerve. The progressive absence of her eyesight began at age 17. She was at the peak of her junior golf career.
“I have no central vision, but on a golf course I can see tree lines [and] very high-contrast colors. Bunkers are bright compared to dark rough and grass,” Cunha, who competes in the G11, G12, G13: Women’s Visual impairment category, said. “Flags are out of the picture if I’m more than 20 yards out.”
She spent her senior year of high school adapting to her new normal. At the same time, Cunha made the decision to become Hawaii’s first disabled golfer. She said the decision hugely influenced her continued Adaptive Golf progression.
Cunha relies on her father and caddie Larry to direct her around the golf course and to guide her shot selection. Each preshot routine begins with Larry standing behind her and extending his arm in the direction she should aim. Amanda then sets up to the ball, and the pair ensures she’s correctly aligned before she swings.
“He’s my eyes on the golf course, so if he’s saying the flag is right under this really tall tree I’m aiming at that. We’re both checking that I’m talking about the same tree because sometimes we talk about different items or objects,” Amanda said. “He’ll ensure that my line on my club face is correct.”
Amanda recently graduated from The University of Arizona where she became the first member of the university’s Adaptive Golf team in 2019. She’s currently searching the job market for a role in Adaptive Golf marketing and communications.
“What [GAP] has done with Adaptive Golf proves to me that we can have a future,” Amanda, who won the Florida Adaptive Open in 2024, said. “It didn’t always look like this, so seeing this support means so much.”
Amanda entered Round 2 tied with former teammate Sophia Howard of Hudsonville, Mich. Amanda bettered her opening round of 81 by one shot. She said her irons and putter were strong pillars of her game Tuesday.
On No. 18 (par 4, 290 yards), she needed bogey to avoid a playoff. She hit a 7-iron from 135 yards, her “purest shot all day,” to short-right of the green. Amanda putted from the fringe leaving 12 feet for par.
“I play golf without knowing my score. My dad writes down my scorecard for me, so I have no idea what I’m shooting,” Amanda said. “He’s like, ‘Just two-putt [and] get off the hole already.’ I’m like ‘If I one-putt it, am I still OK?’ He’s like, ‘Sure, do that.’”
She pushed the chips to the center and confidently rolled her putt for four and the title.
Time to cash out.
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.
| Overall | |
| Men’s Division | |
| Name, city, state | R1-R2=Total |
| Justin Carlock, Eaton, Colo. | 68-71=139 |
| Evan Mathias, Indianapolis, Ind. | 80-70=150 |
| Albert Bowker, Buellton, Calif. | 75-77=152 |
| Mario Dino, Denver, Colo. | 77-76=153 |
| Ricky Reilly, Syracuse, N.Y. | 81-74=155 |
| Grant Carey, Towson, Md. | 78-77=155 |
| Zachary Grove, York, Pa. | 79-77=156 |
| Andrew Austen, Charleston, S.C. | 81-77=158 |
| Trevor Stephens, Greenwich, Conn. | 74-84=158 |
| Kyle Erickson, Minneapolis, Minn. | 79-80=159 |
| Jim Voland, Glenshaw, Pa. | 83-77=160 |
| Russell Aide, Stirling, Ontario, Canada | 79-81=160 |
| Steven Shipuleski, Plainfield, Conn. | 83-80=163 |
| Dawson Thompson, Pascagoula, Miss. | 87-76=163 |
| Fred Heller, Folsom, Pa. | 81-83=164 |
| Tucker Haas, York, Pa. | 79-85=164 |
| Douglas Shirakura, Somers, N.Y. | 86-78=164 |
| Matthew Snowdon, Annapolis, Md. | 84-81=165 |
| George Willoughby, Danville, Va. | 83-83=166 |
| Brandon Canesi, Northfield, N.J. | 88-79=167 |
| Harley Hartle, Allison Park, Pa. | 80-87=167 |
| Dan Diamond, Feasterville, Pa. | 85-83=168 |
| James Van Noord, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | 87-82=169 |
| Vince Biser, Baltimore, Md. | 88-83=171 |
| Jonathan Snyder, Westmont, Ill. | 91-80=171 |
| David de Garavilla, Telford, Pa. | 89-82=171 |
| Tyler Cashman, Gold Canyon, Ariz. | 88-84=172 |
| William Valkner, Tucson, Ariz. | 86-87=173 |
| Andrew Berglund, Stillwater, Minn. | 87-86=173 |
| Jason Hasty, Chester, Va. | 88-88=176 |
| David Schofield, Hollywood, S.C. | 88-88=176 |
| Ryan Lukkari, West Bloomfield, Mich. | 92-86=178 |
| Grant McGuigan, Rochester, N.Y. | 87-93=180 |
| Jeffrey Heisey, Gilbertsville, Pa. | 89-91=180 |
| Brian Partee, Middletown, Del. | 90-92=182 |
| Anthony Maldonado, Odessa, Texas | 90-93=183 |
| Zachary Duncan, Cornelius, N.C. | 94-90=184 |
| Todd Manion, Greenfield, Ind. | 98-94=192 |
| Benjamin Jones, Berkley, Mich. | 93-101=194 |
| Matthew Landcastle, Palmyra, N.Y. | 97-99=196 |
| Kevin McBride, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada | 100-96=196 |
| Steve Mazzilli, Medford, N.J. | 98-102=200 |
| Stephen Kuketz, Quincy, Mass. | 100-104=204 |
| Steven Blatz, Nazareth, Pa. | 103-101=204 |
| Bill Lippincott, Center Valley, Pa. | 110-98=208 |
| Andreas Brandenberger, San Diego, Calif. | 96-116=212 |
| James Nolan, Verona, N.J. | 113-105=218 |
| Jason Rose, Commerce Township, Mich. | 95-WD=WD |
| Tim Healea, Roseville, Calif. | 113-WD=WD |
| Bernardo García, Mexico City, Mexico | NS-NS=NS |
| Overall | |
| Women’s Division | |
| Name, city, state | R1-R2=Total |
| Amanda Cunha, Kaneohe, Hawaii | 82-81=163 |
| Cassie Sengul, Manassas, Va. | 85-80=165 |
| Natasha Stasiuk, Oakville, Ontario, Canada | 84-82=166 |
| Sophia Howard, Hudsonville, Mich. | 82-87=169 |
| Amy Bockerstette, Phoenix, Ariz. | 96-88=184 |
| Tessa Trojan, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada | 96-97=193 |
| Delaney Bartling, Bay Shore, N.Y. | 103-110=213 |
| Kellie Valentine, McKean, Pa. | 109-121=230 |
| NS-no show; WD-withdrawal |
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