PORT STREET LUCIE, Fla. — Few individuals on earth have hit as many golf photographs as Jupiter resident Dennis Walters. Not from a wheelchair, after all.
Walters estimates he has hit greater than 7 million photographs over the previous 47 years since a golf cart accident left him partially paralyzed. More than 99 % of these swings have been from the trick shot present Walters began after his goals of changing into knowledgeable golfer have been dashed.
On Monday, it is time to deal with the remaining 1%: match golf. The World Golf Hall of Famer tried to place that into perspective with a 12-over 83 within the first spherical of the USDGA Championship at PGA Golf Club.
“I’m 74 years outdated, I’ve been in a wheelchair for 50 years, and I used to be 83 once I shot,” Walters mentioned. “There are plenty of useless individuals who would like to be in my footwear and shoot an 83.
“I’m probably not complaining.”
Of course, Walters needs his rating was decrease. The identical goes for different golfers.
But his 83 on the Rider course was sufficient to place him in a tie for second place within the seated division, two strokes behind Justin Miller. Walters is the defending champion right here, successful the seated division title on the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open in 2022.
“I hit some actually good photographs, however they weren’t scoring photographs,” Walters mentioned. “I virtually holed a bunker shot, however missed the 1-foot putt. I did not drive very effectively, however that is the perfect a part of my recreation.”
So what does Walters do after a six-hour spherical? He headed to the placing inexperienced to work on his brief recreation.
“He performed poorly at this time, and he is as sharp as Bernhard Langer right here,” mentioned Russ Holden, who used to caddy for Langer and is an assistant to Walters on the course. “His drive by no means stops. And the superb factor is that he hasn’t performed ‘regular golf’ in 47 years. He embodies what a World Golf Hall of Famer ought to be. ”
Each of the 90 gamers competing within the USGDA Championship has overcome many challenges to tee it up at PGA Golf Club this week. It’s superb to see golfers in wheelchairs or these with neurological issues swinging with one arm or one leg.
Even if most of them would fairly be elsewhere.
“This is a type of golf tournaments you do not wish to qualify for,” Walters mentioned. “But should you’re right here, that is outrageous.”
Walters mentioned individuals thought he was loopy when he began doing trick shot exhibits across the nation. At his peak, he would do greater than 150 motion pictures a yr, and this yr he’ll most likely do greater than 50.
He by no means thought he would sooner or later play in opposition to different golfers with disabilities. This yr marks his sixth yr on the USDGA, run by the United States Disabled Golf Association and sponsored by the PGA of America. The USGA-run US Open for Disabled Players will maintain its third match this summer time.
“I’m very grateful to the PGA of America and the American Golf Association for the Disabled for giving me this chance,” Walters mentioned. “It’s extra for younger individuals than it’s for me. It’s nice that they’ve it and that it opens doorways to aggressive golf.”
Chris Biggins of Birmingham, Alabama, posted an even-par 71 to steer the lads’s general division, two strokes forward of defending champion Chad Pfeiffer, 2022 champion Eli Villanueva and Albert Bowker. . Ken Green, 74, of West Palm Beach, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, is tied for fifth with Kenny Bontz.
Green, who recorded 4 bogeys and one birdie, mentioned, “I’ve to be extra aggressive with my irons.” “It’s onerous to get a birdie until you hit the iron shut.”
Reigning U.S. Adaptive Open champion Ryan Jackson (Seminole), 80, leads the ladies’s division by one stroke over Natasha Stasiuk. Defending champion Bailey Bish is tied for third with Amanda Cunha.
Villanueva is tied for first place within the senior division with George Willoughby, 73, of Danville, Virginia. The 54-hole match will run by Wednesday.
The USDGA Championship is run by the United States Disabled Golf Association and hosted by the PGA of America.