PINEHURST, N.C.—Bellarmine University Assistant Golf Coach Lucas Jones is among the 96 players competing in the Inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open, the latest championship sponsored by the United States Golf Association (USGA) that is being contested at famed Pinehurst Golf Club July 18-20.
 
The USGA states the championship has been years in the making as the organization established eight different impairment categories in which to compete and chose a venue that was worthy of championship golf while allowing players with disabilities to compete. The tournament site—Pinehurst No. 6, a 1979 design by George and Tom Fazio—was chosen specifically for its friendliness to golfers with disabilities because the layout has no forced carries, gentle bunker entrances and no curbs on cart paths, among other features.
 
The only Kentuckian in the field, Jones played for the Knights from 2014-2018 before joining the coaching staff.  As a player, he was a four-time Academic All-GLVC performer and was a member of the 2017 GLVC Championship-winning team.  He also competed in two NCAA tournaments, qualifying as an individual in 2015 and playing on the Knights team that advanced to the 2016 national finals.
 
A graduate of Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Jones played high school basketball until a diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma prevented him from participating in contact sports. Treatment for the rare bone cancer caused his right leg to grow 3 inches shorter than his left. He was introduced to the game by Cooper Musselman, for whom he caddied two years on PGA Tour Canada. He was also coached by Mike Thomas, father of professional golfer Justin Thomas, while growing up. 
 
Stephanie Parel, the championship director for the U.S. Adaptive Open, said the organization and competitors are excited to see the event come to fruition.  "Everyone's giddy – that's the best word I can think of," said Parel. "That's the only way to describe how wonderful this is, the joy of being part of it, having it realized."
 
Parel saw the reactions of players as they registered over the weekend, their smiles "beyond ear to ear," and even a few fist pumps as they headed out to begin preparing for the championship, the details of which were announced only last December.
 
As an "open championship" the event is open to professionals and amateurs and represents a world-class field from 11 countries and 29 U.S. states.  In an effort to create a positive experience for the players, some things will look and feel different than the USGA's other four Opens.
 
For starters, there is no cut – all 96 players will play 54 holes, barring a withdrawal or disqualification. Also, the field is grouped into foursomes, rather than the groups of three or two that are customary at the other Opens. A maximum score of two times par on a given hole (i.e., an 8 on a par 4) will be in effect, and multiple teeing grounds will be used based on players' impairment categories. Each group will be assigned a player assistant to help with course care tasks such as bunker raking, divot replacement and ball mark repair. Finally, 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.
 
Even with all the differences, one key similarity remains: When the two overall low scorers – one male and one female – raise their respective trophies on Wednesday afternoon, they will forever be known as USGA champions.
 
For more information and to follow the scoring, consult the USGA webpage at https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2022/u-s--adaptive-open.html#!latest