USGA Announces Modifications to U.S. Adaptive Open; New Exemption Categories, Cut to be Administered in 2024
Championship entries open today; qualifying method announced

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LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Feb. 22, 2024) -- The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the six qualifying sites and the qualifying method for the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open Championship, which will be contested at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan., on July 8-10. This year’s championship will also feature three new exemption categories and administer a cut for the first time. 
 
Conducted over 18 holes, the following qualifiers will be held at six sites across the United States between Apr. 15 and May 31. They will be managed by Allied Golf Associations (AGAs). In its first two years, the championship field was determined largely by Handicap Index®. 
 
2024 U.S. Adaptive Open Qualifying Sites (6)
Tuesday, April 16 
Cedar Crest Golf Course, Dallas, Texas 
 
Wednesday, Apr. 17 
Bobby Jones Golf Course (Magnolia Route), Atlanta, Ga. 
 
Wednesday, Apr. 24 
Haworth Country Club, Haworth, N.J.  
 
Monday, Apr. 29 
Goose Creek Golf Club, Jurupa Valley, Calif.  
 
Tuesday, May 7 (2) 
Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club, Sarasota, Fla.  
Broadmoor Country Club, Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
Online entry applications are now open and available by clicking here. Entries will close on Wednesday, Apr. 10, at 5 p.m. ET.  
 
In addition, the USGA announced three new exemption* categories, effective this year:  

  • Overall male champion and overall female champion from the 2023 Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO (Chris Willis and Natasha Stasiuk)  
  • Overall male champion and overall female champion from The 2024 G4D Open (to be contested May 15-17) 
  • From the current WR4GD Gross Ranking – the top 10 men's point leaders and ties, and the top five females and ties, as of Apr. 3 (one week before entries close)   

*Must meet all other eligibility requirements 

The World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) ranks the top golfers with disability on the basis of their average performance in Counting Events over a rolling cycle of the previous 104 weeks. 
 
The low overall female scorer and low overall male scorer from each qualifying site will earn spots in the championship.  Any ties will be resolved by a playoff. 
 
The remaining qualifying spots will be determined by Impairment Category and gender across all six qualifying sites using an adjusted Score Differential.  These players will be announced after all qualifying sites have completed play. More information can be found here

A list of those who have already earned a place in the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open field through an exemption can be found here
 
This year’s championship will administer a cut for the first time, with the cut being made by low score (top 20 for men, top 10 for women), plus low two and ties from each impairment category after two rounds. 
 
The Adaptive Open is open to male and female professional and amateur golfers, with a Handicap Index of 36.4 or less, and an eligible impairment confirmed by a WR4GD Pass. The championship is contested over 54 holes of stroke play. Multiple sets of tees are utilized.

About the USGA

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org.

For further information: Jonathan Coe, USGA Communications, jcoe@usga.org