NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 5, 2018
For more information contact:
Roxanne Salerno, Economic Development Program Manager
Powhatan County Economic Development
3834 Old Buckingham Road
Powhatan, VA 23139
(804) 598-5605
rsalerno@powhatanva.gov
POWHATAN COUNTY & RICHMOND REGION TOURISM ANNOUNCES
Powhatan County’s Independence Golf Club to Host 2019 U.S. Disabled Open Golf Championship at Independence Golf Club
RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 5, 2018) – Independence Golf Club in Powhatan County will host the 2019 United States Disabled Open Golf Championship May 14-16. Organized by the United States Disabled Golf Association, the 36-hole tournament – open to any competitors who have physical and intellectual impairments – will include more than 60 of the top disabled golfers from across the country.
Local dignitaries and representatives from the United States Disabled Golf Association today joined partners from Richmond Region Tourism, 288 Sports and others to announce the upcoming national championship.
“Independence Golf Club is excited to partner with Richmond Region Tourism and 288 Sports to host to the 2019 United States Disabled Open Golf Championship,” said Giff Breed, president of Independence Golf Club. “We’re excited to welcome incredible golfers of all abilities. At Independence, we strive to be so much more than a golf club, and we look forward to showcasing the friendly grounds of the Club to all of the athletes, spectators and volunteers.”
“We are very excited USDGA has chosen Independence Golf Course,” said David Williams, who represents District 1 on the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. “We have a world-class golf course here in Powhatan County, and we are always happy when people choose to come here.”
The Disabled Golf Association was founded by Jason Faircloth, a golfer with Cerebral Palsy who played in the Disabled British Open in 2011 and 2012. The organization hosted its inaugural tournament in Orlando, Florida in 2018.
The inclusive event is open to players with physical and intellectual impairments and golf handicap indexes not exceeding 30. The event will be flighted into three divisions, and awards will be given in each of the divisions (net and gross). Golfers with various impairments such as amputations, blindness, Cerebral Palsy, MS and more will compete.
“We are confident that the 2019 United States Disabled Open Golf Championship at Independence Golf Club will set a new standard for the USDGA,” Faircloth said. “Independence Golf Club will be a challenging and exciting course for the nation’s top adaptive golfers.”
J.C. Poma, sports development manager for Richmond Region Tourism, added: “The Richmond Region serves as a host destination for all types of sporting events showcasing the talents of athletes with all abilities. The 2019 United States Disabled Open Golf Championship further shows that the Richmond Region truly is a sports community for all.”
The tournament will be free and open to the public. Organizers currently are seeking volunteers and sponsors to support the event. For more information, visit http://www.usdga.net/.
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