Martin & Sengul Go Wire-to-Wire at the Inaugural Arizona Adaptive Open Presented by PING

PHOENIX, Ariz. – It was only fitting that a pair of dominant performances ushered in the inaugural Arizona Adaptive Open, presented by PING. In the maiden event, Tennessee’s Ford Martin (-1) and New Jersey’s Cassie Sengul (+16) went wire-to-wire to capture the inaugural Arizona Adaptive Open titles at Papago Golf Club.

RESULTS

Martin, who competes in the neurological impairment category, struggled through the first nine holes of the tournament. Trailing second-place finisher Kody Conover for much of the first round, Martin made three birdies down the stretch, including a clutch up-and-down on the final hole to overtake Conover by a stroke. Playing with Conover in round two as well, Martin took a match play mindset into the final 18 holes; he shot even par on the second day to secure the win.

Ford Martin hits out of a greenside bunker on the final hole of the 2024 Arizona Adaptive Open (Photo by Brandon Genson)

“It was really windy and gusty, so it was a battle out there,” Martin said. “I definitely battled and grinded for some pars on the front and then on the back, I was able to go on a streak and make three birdies in a row. It was almost smooth sailing from there. There were some touch-and-go moments but I was able to stay patient and make some putts, which I really didn’t yesterday, so it felt good to make some putts today and close it out.”

For Martin, this is new territory. This was just his third adaptive golf event; one of those was the U.S. Adaptive Open last July in Kansas, where he placed T5. To make his first championship victory even more special, it came on his mother’s birthday, and he had his family by his side as he played through all 36 holes.

For Sengul, who also competes in the neurological impairment category, there was never a doubt. A freshman on Drew University’s golf team, Sengul finished her round with a birdie. Despite the challenge of having to throw her practice round notes out due to the windy conditions and tricky greens, Sengul adjusted and took a commanding nine-stroke lead into the second round; she tacked on one more stroke to that in round two to win by 10 strokes.

Cassie Sengul hits a drive during the final round of the 2024 Arizona Adaptive Open (Photo by Brandon Genson)

“It was a lot of adjustments,” Sengul said. “A lot of chipping because nothing was sticking, just taking my time, looking at every note I made and trying the best I could.”

Her win at the Arizona Adaptive Open marks her second in a matter of weeks. Just eight weeks ago, Sengul also won the Golf Association of Philadelphia's (GAP) inaugural Adaptive Open.

The following players also took home prizes for being winners in their respective impairment categories:

• Samuel Roach (above knee, men’s)
• Kyle Erickson (below knee, men’s)
• William Valkner (multiple leg, men’s)
• Russell Aide (arm-unassisted, men’s)
• Robert Walden (arm-assisted, men’s)
• Brandon Canesi (multiple arm, men’s)
• Tracy Ramin (arm & leg impairment, men’s)
• Larry Celano (seated, men’s)
• Kenny Gentile (visual, men’s)
• Albert Bowker (short stature, men’s)
• Kody Conover (intellectual disability, men’s)
• Beverly Bourdages (arm-assisted, women’s)
• Amanda Cunha (visual, women’s)
• Amy Bockerstette (intellectual disability, women’s)

Players also took home prizes for being winners in their respective impairment categories (Photo by Brandon Genson)