Aide and Sengul Qualify for 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open
HAWORTH, N.J. (April 24, 2024) – Russell Aide of Canada, and Cassandra Sengul of Manassas, Va., punched their tickets to the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open Championship by earning low male and female medalist honors at the qualifying round at Haworth Country Club on Wednesday.
It will be Aide's second straight U.S. Adaptive Open appearance. The 17-year-old finished tied for 18th last year at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 6). Sengul, 18, will make her debut at the national championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan., July 8-10.
"I am excited to go to Kansas. I am excited to go back again," noted Aide.
"I am happy to represent the young girl golfer," Sengul said. "I get to experience something I have never done before, and I am stoked about it. I have a lot of practicing to do before I get to Kansas, but I have some time to make sure everything is dialed in."
Aide fired a 3-under 69 to finish four shots clear of the field of 39 competitors. After double-bogeying the second, the Canadian birdied holes Nos. 6, 7 and 9 to card a 1-under 35 on the front nine. Aide pushed his score to 2-under after opening the back nine with a birdie and ended his round with a birdie on the par-5 18th.
"I made a lot of putts in the 10-foot range, which kept me afloat and allowed me to go low [today]," said Aide after his round.
"Ten was a good birdie," said Aide. "[My second shot] hit the pin, and I converted that. I was happy to get the par on 11 after a downhill chip."
Sengul carded a 14-over 86 on the par-72 layout. After a bogey on the first, Sengul made par on the par-4 second. She birdied the par-5 sixth before closing her opening nine with a 43. On the back nine, Sengul made par on the 300-yard par-4 10th and then tallied a birdie on the 240-yard par-4 15th.
"My driver was very consistent today, and that was what pushed me through the round today," added Sengul. "I like being part of history, and I am making a change. I am excited."
Thursday's qualifier was one of six qualifying rounds conducted throughout the country. It is the first year of qualifying for the U.S. Adaptive Open. Additional qualifiers from the site will be selected once all six of the qualifiers are completed and players' scores are compared when computing a Qualifying Score Value.