GAP Adaptive Championship: Round 2

October 16, 2024

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Nlareb, Sengul go wire-to-wire in Inaugural Championship

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. –  A new chapter has been added to the GAP Championship history books.

| Scoring Portal | Round 2 Notebook | Round 2 Video Recap | Photo Gallery | Round 1 Recap | Round 1 Notebook | Round 1 Video |

In January, the Association opened the year with the goal of engaging the Adaptive Golf community. GAP Adaptive was initially created with two principle programs: No Limit Clinics, which are instructional opportunities for people with disabilities to try Adaptive Golf, and a GAP Adaptive Championship, an elite-level tournament for the finest Adaptive Golfers in the world.

The inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship serves as the culmination of the first GAP Adaptive season. On Tuesday, the Final Round of the Championship came to fruition at Doylestown Country Club. Round 1 was contested Monday at nearby Lookaway Golf Club. A total of 55 Adaptive Golfers hailing from 20 states and four countries arrived at Doylestown early to warm up before the Final Round amid chilly temperatures in the 40s.

GAP crowned champions in Men’s and Women’s Overall categories as well as winners of 13 represented disability classifications.

The following players take home trophies for being the winners of their respective categories: Albert Bowker, Buellton, Calif. (Short Stature, men); Judi Brush, Alexandria, Va. (Below Knee, women); Amanda Cunha, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Visual, women); Ken Green, New Fairfield, Conn. (Below Knee, men); Fred Heller, Schnecksville, Pa. (Above Knee, men); Ryan Matthews of Anderson, Ind. (Arm Unassisted, men); Issa Nlareb (Multiple Limb, men); Cassandra Sengul, Manassas, Va. (Neurological, women); Tessa Trojan, St. Catharines, Ontario (Intellectual, women); Mariano Tubio, Argentina (Seated, men); Kellie Valentine, McKean, Pa. (Arm Unassisted, women); James Van Noord, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Neurological, men); Eli Villanueva, Fayetteville, N.C. (Arm assisted, men). 

Sengul (left) and Nlareb

In the Men’s Overall (par 72, 6,304 yards) contest, Issa Nlareb of Cameroon captured his second Adaptive Golf championship title with a Round 2 score of 1-under 72. Just six days ago, he hoisted hardware in the Texas Adaptive Golf Championship. 

“I’m happy to participate in this event because I found a lot of players and that [gives] people with disabilities more view,” Nlareb, 34, said. “This week my game was good. I was very solid. Every part of my game was there.”

Nlareb plays in the Multiple Limb impairment category after he contracted bacterial meningitis that forced the amputation of both of his legs and several of his fingers. This year, he won the Men’s Multiple Limb Amputee Division in the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open. 

His championship performance Tuesday didn’t come to boil immediately. After a Round 1 score of 1-over 74, he began the day with a four-shot lead over Ken Green, a former 1989 U.S. Ryder Cup team member turned Adaptive Golfer. Cool temperatures contributed to frustration for Nlareb. Struggles out of the gate left him tied with Green.

“After four holes I was plus four. Looking forward I said, ‘Just calm down and try to manage the game and just be patient,’” Nlareb said.

Patience prevailed and he carded a birdie on Doylestown’s No. 6 (par 4, 357 yards). He shook off the frost with a 60-degree wedge from 80 yards to three feet. He finished the front nine at 3-over.  

Before each shot, save for putting, Nlareb tightly binds his left hand to the golf club via a strap to compensate for a lack of grip strength in his hand. An idea developed by his doctor back home. On Doylestown’s back nine, Nlareb figuratively strapped in for a four-birdie barrage that earned him the trophy. 

He got things started on  No. 12 (par 4, 367 yards) when his gap wedge from 120 yards landed six inches away from the hole. On No. 14 (par 5, 485 yards), his pitching wedge from 158 yards landed long of the green. He chipped the ensuing 10-footer to six inches. After a big drive on No. 16 (par 4, 380 yards), he left his chip from 20 feet just inches away. His final red number came on No. 17 (par 3, 168 yards) when he chipped in from 25 feet. 

Nlareb’s American tour isn’t finished yet. In two weeks, he heads to Florida for the 2nd Florida Adaptive Open.

“I think America is my place,” Nlareb said. “[If] I get to come live in America and play a couple of competitions it is good for me.”

Cassandra Sengul of Manassas, Va. captured her own wire-to-wire victory in the Women’s Overall Division (par 72, 5,310 yards) with a Round 2 score of 95.

At Lookaway, the Drew University Women’s Golf Team member carded an opening-round 81 to lead the Women’s field by 13 shots. She continued her trend of steady golf and placed a premium on pars Tuesday to earn her first Adaptive Championship title. 

“This week has just been incredible here in Philadelphia,” Sengul, 18, said. “I love making the records and setting them. Knowing that, I hope people can break them someday, but I like to see my name first.”

Sengul lives with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder affecting movement and balance. She plays in the Women’s Neurological impairment category. She began playing in Adaptive Golf events this past summer. Competition and community keeps her coming back. 

“I just love playing with the girls. We know each other [and] we don’t get to see each other that often, so when we have the chance it’s really fun,” Sengul said. “You feel you can be a role model for other players who you know may be a little tentative to come out in play in these. I feel like I can. I never had a role model to look up to in adaptive golf.”

It was an exciting two days in Bucks County, Pa. for GAP’s most impactful championship. History created and community cultivated at the inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship.

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. 

Men’s Overall
Name, city, state R1-R2=Total

Issa Nlareb, Cameroon 74-71=145
Ken Green, New Fairfield, Conn. 78-76=154
Brandon Canesi, Northfield, N.J. 80-80=160
Eli Villanueva, Fayetteville, N.C. 81-80=161
Albert Bowker, Buellton, Calif. 80-81=161
James Van Noord, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 82-79=161
Kyle Erickson, Minneapolis, Minn. 81-83=164
Jarrett Fultz, Queen Creek, Ariz. 82-83=165
Fred Heller, Schnecksville, Pa. 79-86=165
Luke Carroll, Old Hickory, Tenn. 84-82=166
David DeGaravilla, Telford, Pa. 83-83=166
Ricky Reilly, Syracuse, N.Y. 89-78=167
Adam Benza, Hellertown, Pa. 85-82=167
Vince Biser, Baltimore, Md. 80-88=168
Pat Garrison, Folsom, Pa. 85-87=172
Ryan Matthews, Anderson, Ind. 88-85=173
Tracy Ramin, Montrose, Mich. 88-85=173
Steven Shipuleski, Plainfield, Conn. 86-89=175
Brandon Rowland, Jackson, Tenn. 85-90=175
Brian Bemis, Lansing, Mich. 91-86=177
Mariano Tubio, Argentina 87-91=178
Jason Hasty, Chester, Va. 85-98=183
James Voland, Glenshaw, Pa. 99-84=183
Mike Tallman, Fair Haven, N.J. 94-90=184
Larry Celano, Chandler, Ariz. 92-94=186
Will Valkner, Parker, Colo. 90-97=187
Ryan Lukkari, West Bloomfield, Mich. 93-95=188
Grant McGuigan, Rochester, N.Y. 96-94=190
Greg Alessi, Tinton Falls, N.J. 94-98=192
Andrew Austen, Charleston, S.C. 100-93=193
Charles Lippincott, Center Valley, Pa. 95-101=196
Jason Rose, Commerce Township, Mich. 97-100=197
Albee Shanefelter, Silver Spring, Md. 98-100=198
Karl Cooke, Fairfax, Va. 99-100=199
Mark Hartney, Williamsburg, Va. 100-100=200
Jason Faircloth, Clinton, N.C. 104-98=202
Eric Tye, Warminster, Pa. 107-104=211
Steven Blatz, Nazareth, Pa. 98-117=215
John Nicholas, Fairfax, Va. 99-119=218
Matthew Landcastle, Canandaigua, N.Y. 116-102=218
Roger Johnson, Collinsville, Va. 105-116=221
Jimmy Nolan, Verona, N.J. 110-119=229
Bart Oliva, Pompton Lakes, N.J. 116-115=231
Keegan Kilroy, Kittery, Maine 120-122=242
Matthew King, Oldbridge, N.J. 129-123=252
Shane Hurst, East Earl, Pa. 123-135=258
Jerry Cronin, Perkasie, Pa. 139-120=259
Dan Carney, Harleysville, Pa. WD

Women’s Overall
Name, city, state R1-R2=Total
Cassandra Sengul, Manassas, Va. 81-95=176
Amanda Cunha, Kaneohe, Hawaii 94-87=181
Ryanne Jackson, Madeira Beach, Fla. 98-86=184
Tessa Trojan, St. Catharines, Ontario 100-97=197
Judi Brush, Alexandria, Va. 120-120=240
Kellie Valentine, McKean, Pa. 132-110=242
WD-withdrawal

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GAP Adaptive Championship: Round 2

Nlareb, Sengul go wire-to-wire in Inaugural Championship DOYLESTOWN, Pa. –  A new chapter has been added to the GAP Championship history books. | Scoring Portal | Round 2 Notebook | Round 2

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