Promoting Inclusivity Through Adaptive Golf By Renee Adam The Indiana Golf Association (IGA) hosted the highly anticipated third annual Indiana Adaptive Championship at the Golf Club of Indiana in Whitestown over the May 4th weekend. This year’s event saw an impressive turnout, with 28 competitors traveling from nine states and two Canadian provinces, underscoring the growing enthusiasm and participation in adaptive golf across North America. Evan Mathias of Indianapolis emerged victorious in the Overall Men’s Division, triumphing in a thrilling four-hole playoff against Robby Donarski of Franklin, Wisconsin. Mathias, the defending champion, praised the high level of competition and the challenging nature of the course. “Robbie really made the day fun,” Mathias said. “It was back and forth all day long, with anything possible. Just consistency was the strongest part of my game this week. I only missed four greens all weekend, I didn’t three putt, and only had one bad swing all day.” Mathias’s performance was marked by remarkable consistency. Over the weekend, he posted three bogeys, all in the first round, and recorded eight birdies and 25 pars, finishing with a score of five under par. Born with congenital defects to both legs, Mathias has used prosthetics since he was one year old. His impressive resume includes participation in the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Adaptive Opens, where he won the Multiple Leg division last year and finished 29th overall. Mathias also holds a ParaLong Drive record of 398 yards and will compete in the 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open. This July, Mathias will represent Team USA in
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