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Inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open Concludes at Pinehurst

Douglas Shirakura Photo: USGA/Robert Beck

UPDATE (July 19, 2022) -- Rounds of 75-77-79 at Pinehurst No. 6 earned Douglas Shirakura of Somers, N.Y., a tie for ninth in the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open this week, as fans golf around the country were inspired by play from nearly 100 players that represented eight different impairment categories.

Related: U.S. Adaptive Open Home

Shirakura, a below-knee, lower limb amputee as a result of amniotic band syndrome, competed in the Leg Impairment category, finishing third behind Chad Pfeifer of Caldwell, Idaho, who competed on Golf Channel's Big Break series in 2015, and five-time PGA TOUR winner Ken Green of West Palm Beach, Fla., who lost his leg in an RV accident in 2009. Shirakura played his outward nine in 5-over 41, but steadied himself on the way in, adding a birdie en route to a 38 over his final nine.

PGA TOUR star Max Homa even chimed in on Shirakura's swing on Twitter, and instead of his typical roasting of players' swings, provided high praise for the 20-year-old who's an aerospace engineer major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Trevor Stephens of Greenwich, Conn., also competing in the Leg Impairment category, carded an 8-over 80 on the final day, finishing tied for sixth in the flight and tied for 19th overall.

On the women's side, Elaine Greyserman finished 11th overall, competing in the Neurological Impairment flight. After opening with rounds of 103 and 109 the first two days, Greyserman carded a 98 on the final day to move up two spots in the final standings. Greyserman resides in Boca Raton, Fla., but represents the Met Area as well and is the mother of frequent MGA competitors Max, Dean and Reed Greyserman.

The championship was played under the Modified Rules of Golf, which includes a set of accommodations that includes the expansion of the lateral relief area – to four-club lengths – for seated players and permitting the caddies of visually impaired players to stand behind their player and assist with alignment and setup.

UPDATE (July 19, 2022) -- A 5-over 77 in the second round of the U.S. Adaptive Open has Douglas Shirakura of Somers, N.Y., tied for eighth overall in the men's field in the inaugural championship at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C.

Related: U.S. Adaptive Open Home

After opening with a 3-over 75 on Monday, Shirakura once again carded two birdies on Tuesday, but tallied a couple more miscues en route to his 77. Shirakura, 20, is a below-knee, lower limb amputee as a result of amniotic band syndrome and has been playing competitively since middle school. Following the two rounds, he now sits 10 shots back of overall leader Simon Lee of the Republic of Korea, who's carded a pair of 1-under 70s. Among the separate categories, Shirakura sits third in the of those competing with a leg impairment, behind only Chad Pfeifer of Caldwell, Idaho and Ken Green of West Palm Beach, Fla., who are 4- and 6-over, respectively.

Trevor Stephens of Greenwich, Conn., also opened the championship with a 3-over 75, but fell off the pace on Tuesday with a 12-over 84. He is also competing with a leg impairment.

Elaine Greyserman of Boca Raton, Fla., mother of frequent MGA competitors Max, Dean and two-time MGA/MetLife Boys' champion Reed Greyserman, also represents the Met Area, competing in the neurological impairment flight. Greyserman has carded rounds of 103 and 109 over the two days at Pinehurst.

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 18, 2022) -- History is being made this week as the USGA conducts the first-ever U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C., and the Met Area's Douglas Shirakura and Trevor Stephens are part of the story. Overall, 96 players represent eight different impairment categories, while the world-class field contains players from 11 countries and 29 U.S. states. 

Related: U.S. Adaptive Open Home | Extra: Shirakura Feature

Both Shirakura of Somers, N.Y., and Stephens of Greenwich, Conn., are competing in the leg impairment category and on Monday carded 3-over 75s to sit tied second in their flight and tied sixth overall. Chad Pfeifer of Caldwell, Idaho, set the pace with a 2-under 70, also playing as a leg impairment competitor.

Shirakura, who the MGA caught up with in December upon the announcement of the U.S. Adaptive Open, used a pair of birdies en route to his 75 on the No. 6 Course. Meanwhile, Stephens bounced back from a first-nine 40 with an impressive 1-under 35 en route to his 75 that featured four birdies.

“I started out a little shaky in the beginning—a combination I think of some nerves and just a few bad swings," said Stephens. "I was able to put a better back nine together, started to make a few putts, hit a few nice wedges and scrapped it together for a 75."

For Stephens, the entire experience of his first-ever adaptive tournament has belown him away. 

"Everyone that’s here couldn’t be more friendly," says Stephens. "Everyone’s quick to just say hey and introduce themselves and get a little background to the story and it’s been fantastic."

Stephens has also noticed the reach that the championship has had already, receiving encouragement from a variety of people.

"Just from my network of people that know that I’m playing in it, I have people that I really haven’t spoken to in some time reaching out saying this is amazing and kind of cheering me on,” says Stephens. "It absolutely will expand the game."

Players are competing over 54 holes of stroke play, at which time both the low male and low female will earn titles and hoist their respective trophies.

The championship is being played under the Modified Rules of Golf, which includes a set of accommodations that includes the expansion of the lateral relief area – to four-club lengths – for seated players and permitting the caddies of visually impaired players to stand behind their player and assist with alignment and setup.

The community of golfers with disabilities includes some people whose names will no doubt ring a bell. Ken Green, 63, who lost his leg in an RV accident in 2009, won five PGA Tour events in the late 1980s and played on the 1989 USA Ryder Cup Team. Dennis Walters, the 2018 USGA Bob Jones Award recipient and the second-oldest player in the field at 73, is renowned for his trick-shot exhibitions that have entertained audiences around the world.

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