South Ogden’s Togisala medals in US Adaptive Open golf tournament
-
- Max Togisala, of South Ogden, plays a shot during a practice round ahead of the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
-
- Max Togisala, of South Ogden, hits from the 11th tee during the final round of the U.S. Adaptive Open on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
Jeff Haynes, USGA
Max Togisala, of South Ogden, plays a shot during a practice round ahead of the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
While many of Utah's top golfers are in South Ogden this week for the men's Utah State Amateur, South Ogden native Max Togisala went to Kansas to show off his swing.
Togisala repeated as a medalist this week by claiming the top spot in the seated player category of the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open golf tournament Monday through Wednesday, played at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
Togisala carded six birdies for a 1-under 71 in the second round, giving him a score of 7-over in his three rounds. He beat Thomas Duffy, from Utica, Illinois, who shot 14-over, for a repeat medal in his category after winning the same in 2023.
"I had such an amazing experience this year," Togisala said, reached by text message as he traveled to yet another tournament. "I'm so happy to see my hard work paid off this week and I'm super excited to for next year's U.S. Adaptive Open!"
Togisala, 20, said his goal was to shoot in the 70s for all three rounds, which he did with a sequence of 76-71-76.
Jeff Haynes, USGA
Max Togisala, of South Ogden, hits from the 11th tee during the final round of the U.S. Adaptive Open on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kansas.
"The course was so nice and maintained for us to compete in this year's open," Togisala said.
The U.S. Adaptive Open field is comprised of players with intellectual, vision or physical impairments. Togisala, a graduate of Bonneville High School, is paralyzed from the waist down after a ski accident in February 2022.
Once a golfer at Bonneville High, Togisala first relearned golf by swinging one-handed from a wheelchair and also took up pickleball and lacrosse as he gained strength following his injury.
Using a large power chair called a mobility rider, Togisala can move around the course and the device elevates him into a standing-like position for him to swing.
Togisala was the only Utah golfer in the men's or women's fields. He finished tied for 16th in the overall standings that combined all eight categories.
England's Kipp Popert took the overall men's title, shooting 14-under.
In the women's overall scoring, Bailey Bish of Tucson, Arizona, took the top spot at 8-over.