Adaptive Golf

At the 5th U.S. Adaptive Open this summer, the field and the results showed that adaptive golf continues to grow the game for people with dis­abilities.

Three Coloradans competed: Justin Carlock of Eaton, Trevor Kennison of Winter Park, and Mario Dino of Denver. Each had a different experience in the tournament, but all said the opportunity to compete remained a special thrill.

Carlock made his U.S. Adaptive Open debut at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md., and won his lower limb impairment category with a three-round score of 9-under par. Carlock was born with a condition in which the amniotic sac constricted his hands in the womb, causing his fingers to fuse and develop differently. He has undergone more than 10 surgeries.

Carlock is the assistant golf professional at Eaton Country Club and played his way into the final pairing for a showdown with eventual winner Kipp Popert. Poper, from England, won his third straight U.S. Adaptive Open title.

At one point, Carlock had his toddler give Kipp a dap in congratulations in what turned out to be one of the more indelible images from the championship.

In the moments after Carlock finished his final round, he hugged his family and posse of friends.

“This is the coolest golf tournament I’ve ever gotten to be a part of,” Carlock said. “It feels pretty good coming all the way out here and playing most of the way how I wanted to play. Of course you always want to play a little bit better. But I had a blast. I gave it everything I had.”

The 31-year-old brought his best energy, enthusiasm, and drive in his debut Adaptive Open, and that came together for his category win and an immediate invite back next year for the sixth U.S. Adaptive Open next July at Oregon’s Sun River Resort. After an incredibly inspiring week for both his game and from the relationships he built with fel­low competitors and their families, Carlock said he was struck by an immense feeling of fulfillment upon reflection.

“The most fulfilling part would have to be just prov­ing lo myself that I belong with those guys. I have a lot of people in my corner that push me to be the best I can be,” Carlock said. “Getting to share that experience with those same people was more than fulfilling. Getting to share what I love doing with those I love the most was something I will never forget. And I hope there will be many more Adap- live Opens to come.”

Carlock had his whole family out at the champi­onship, and back at Eaton Country Club the locals held a watch party to see how he’d finish on the final day.

“I am so thankful for everyone who showed up for the watch party; it just means so much to me, and that’s such a special thing that they thought of me for that final round,” Carlock said.

Mario Dino of Denver competed in his fifth straight U.S. Adaptive Open. Dino was born with a form of cerebral palsy that restricts movements on the left side of his body. The 23-year-old is a member of the University of Redlands men’s golf team. The Denver native had an accomplished golf career at Mullen High School, and Dino competed in the state championships from 2017-20, finishing sec­ond and helping his team earn runner-up honors in his senior season. Dino placed fourth in the Coordination Impairment category in 2025, and this year at Woodmont finished third. He also tied for fifteenth in the overall men’s category leader­board.

“This championship is just truly amazing; it real­ly feels like a U.S. Amateur or a U.S. Open,” Dino said. “It just all feels like the real thing to me.”

THEIR OWN COURSE

it just feels good to know you’re just trying to play as good as you can to represent those who you know so well back at home,” Dino said.

Dino has cerebral palsy and says that is the reason why, of all sports he played growing up, that he de­cided on golf.

“With basketball I couldn’t dribble with my left hand; I would tuck my glove under my left arm, but for golf, I can grip the club with two hands,” Dino says. “There’s definitely some weakness in my left arm that does affect my golf swing, but it really was something that didn’t affect me that much. My mom always says that I chose golf be­cause it helped my disability by coming through in my swing, and that’s part of the swinging motion and that’s a helpful reason why I chose golf. I think it helps with my symmetry. Trying to make my left side symmetrical for my right.”

al Woodmont, and the fans seemed to really reso­nate for Kennison.

He was paralyzed from the waist down following a snowboarding accident near Vail in 2014. Kenni­son has since become one of the world’s top adap­tive action sports athletes, making history in 2022 as the first adaptive athlete to hit the X Games Big Air jump. In addition to skiing, Kennison competes in adaptive golf and surfing. He continues to push the limits of adaptive sports while inspiring others through his resilience and determination.

“Playing at Woodmont in the Adaptive Open was a thrill for me,” Kennison said. “It was a special week and an amazing time.”

He said he sees similarities between competing in skiing and in golf. “I think being prepared, breath work, understanding your trajectory, it’s important to be ready with all of those before you go to nail a Dino was up at Cherry Hills in 2023 as a spectator for the U.S. Amateur as a fan, and he says the U.S. Adaptive Open at Woodmont “Had a similar vibe. As a competitor, you show up for check-in, and you get the player medallion, you get access to the locker room, the course is in immaculate condition, you have your name plate on the range for you when you need to hit balls, it all just feels almost exactly the same as what I witnessed of the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills for those contestants.”

What compelled Dino the most in this particular week at the Adaptive Open? “Well, it’s our national championship, and I think that representing my home state in Colorado gives me a lot of pride, and Dino had his dad on the bag at Woodmont. “It was so nice to have him on the bag. He’s really come into his own as a caddie,” Dino smiles. “He keeps me calm out there, and he helps me play my best when I’m not thinking too much about the result, just have fun and play golf.”

Trevor Kennison of Winier Park made his debut in the U.S. Adaptive Open, and watching his opening round, you couldn’t wipe the ear-to-ear grin from his face, nor from the faces of his mom Olga and girlfriend Kelly.

Though the 33-year-old would ultimately miss the cut and play two rounds in the seated golfer category, the experience with his peers, the staff

jump,” Kennison said. “I guess with golf there are little differences, but also similarities with seeing an obstacle and then getting it out of your mind and then understanding the calculated risk. Once you get into your shot, then it’s a mental rhythm you find and then off you go. Make an assertive jump or stroke.”

The trip to Woodmont would end up being a homecoming of sorts for Kennison as he drove north into the northeast states above Maryland after the tournament to play golf with some old friends at places he had last played as a kid. For Carlock, the part of the week he’ll remember 30 years from now was all about his family and sup­port.