3rd Chicago Adaptive Open presented by IBJI

Nashville, Tennessee native and double leg amputee Jordan Thomas claimed the Men's Overall title at Fox Bend, carding rounds of 70 and 69 to win by three strokes.

3rd Chicago Adaptive Open presented by Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
June 13-14 • Fox Bend Golf Course (Oswego)

Day Two: Sunday, June 14

THOMAS GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE TO CLAIM 3RD CHICAGO ADAPTIVE OPEN CROWN
OSWEGO, Ill - Moments after Jordan Thomas (Nashville, Tenn. / Impairment in Both Legs) sank his final putt on the 18th green at Fox Bend Golf Course in Oswego on Sunday, he shook hands with his playing partners and volunteers, acknowledged the nearby crowd of spectators and players and answered a few questions for the YouTube live stream.

Related Links: (Results) / (Photo Gallery) / (Live Stream Replay)

He had just captured the Men’s Overall title in the 3rd Chicago Adaptive Open presented by Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, capping off the wire-to-wire victory with a 3-under 69, finishing three shots ahead of Josh Williams (Canada / Leg Impairment Below the Knee) amidst blustery conditions. But amongst the numerous people he approached after his win, one in particular stood out.

Lukas Woolley, 7, a leg amputee from La Grange Park, Ill. and his mother, Karolina, were also waiting nearby, and when they met with Thomas, he proceeded to hand young Lukas the winning golf ball. An elated Lukas accepted the gift, and Jordan was left with a moment he may remember even more than the win itself.

“It was such an awesome surprise,” said the 37-year-old Thomas. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about having an impact on this earth. I’m blessed to be able to do what I do. To see him and have him here is just the cherry on top.”

Like the victor, Lukas has a prosthetic leg. That leg was provided by the Jordan Thomas Foundation, which Thomas started at the age of 16 after a boating accident left him without both of his legs below the knees. While in the hospital, he saw the need for accessible prostheses for children and began his life’s mission. Karolina put that mission’s impact into perspective.

“He means the world to us,” she said. “He changed his life.”

In addition to his off-course impact, Thomas made a splash in his debut over the 36-hole event. He carried a two-shot lead heading into the final round and kept his foot on the gas pedal after a 2-under 70 on Saturday. Turning at even par, he picked up momentum with a birdie on the par-5 10th. Aided by consistent tee shots and controlled wedges, he added more red figures on Nos. 13 and 16. Williams, playing in the final grouping alongside Thomas, attempted to keep pace with birdies of his own on Nos. 11 and 14.

But Thomas would never falter, even with Williams birdieing his final two holes. The leader remained steady in his strategy, regardless of where he was on the leaderboard and his self-proclaimed “B game.”

“17 green is where I asked [where I stood] because it wasn’t ultimately going to change my strategy at all, but it was nice to know where we were.

“I think the big one, for me, is that I can play good golf with my B game,” he added. “I don’t have to play perfectly. If you can just hang around and make a bunch of pars, and just hang in there, I think you can compete. So it’s a lot of good momentum.”

His fourth-straight competitive victory came in an event that many in the adaptive golf community had pushed for him to play in. After the round, he turned the spotlight back on those same individuals and praised their efforts.

“It is unanimously the best adaptive golf tournament, aside from the U.S. Adaptive Open, that we have on the calendar,” said Thomas. “[They are] some of the best humans I’ve ever had the privilege of being around. Their stories are unbelievable, they have incredible game, and it is a family. A lot of the most important people in my life are people on this circuit.”

With a victory under his belt, Thomas promises to return to the Chicago District for the 2027 iteration of the event. In the more immediate future, though, he has bigger things going on. Woolley will be among a slew of youngsters who will make their way to Nashville for a Foundation-related gathering. Another community, but with the same impact for Thomas.

“We have kids in 35 different states,” said Thomas. “So we’ll have kids from all over the U.S. come down and get together. It’s a community that is awe-inspiring.”

Moore Adds To Legacy With Women’s Title

Kim Moore (Ft. Wayne, Ind. / Leg Impairment Below the Knee) entered her first Chicago Adaptive Open as one of the field’s most accomplished competitors, having won the Women’s Overall title in the 2022 and 2025 U.S. Adaptive Opens. Her play lived up to the billing, as she carded rounds of 78 and 75 to claim the Women’s Overall title by eight strokes.

“I’m always looking for some prep going into a couple weeks at Woodmont [site of the U.S. Adaptive Open],” Moore, who was born without a right foot, said. “I knew this event would have a number of decent players that I could compete against. That was the biggest reason - coming out, having a good time, enjoying the camaraderie, but also some good prep for me.”

Sissom Repeats Atop Senior Standings

Mark Sissom (Scott City, Mo. / Leg Impairment Above Knee), who lost his left leg in a 2009 motorcycle accident, takes pride in the consistency of his game.

“I don’t hit it real far, but I don’t hit it crooked,” the 59-year-old explained. “That’s my key - keep it in play.”

A consistent game led to consistent results, as two rounds of 77 earned him a nine-shot victory in the Senior Overall title chase for the second consecutive year.

“It means a lot,” Sissom said of the repeat triumph. “I don’t have the length to play with the young boys, so I play where I can.”

Team Arizona 2-for-2 In Click-Pearl Cup

Longtime Chicagoan Steve Pearl had a vision - a team competition for adaptive golf athletes.

In 2025, he partnered with Arizonian Jim Click and the CDGA to create the Click-Pearl Cup, a team competition contested within the scope of existing adaptive golf events. The series debuted in December at the Arizona Adaptive Open, with just Arizona and Illinois competing, and expanded to include teams from Indiana and Michigan at Fox Bend.

“We’re trying to develop team competition for these wonderful athletes,” Pearl said.

The lowest three scores from each team’s competitors were tallied to comprise the team leaderboard. Team Arizona (+51) emerged victorious by a singular stroke over Team Michigan (+52), with Team Illinois (+56) and Team Indiana (+58) close behind.

“They’re all wonderful, wonderful athletes,” Pearl said, noting that Georgia is expected to add a team moving forward. “We’re just proud to be part of it.”

Overall and Sports Classification Winners

Overall Men’s
Jordan Thomas (Nashville, Tenn.)

Overall Women’s
Kim Moore (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Overall Senior
Mark Sissom (Scott City, Mo.)

G1: Leg Impairment Above the Knee
Men’s: Victor Postillion (Winfield, Ill.)
Women’s: Kelsey Koch (Grand Blanc, Mich.)

G2: Leg Impairment Below the Knee
Men’s: Josh Williams (Canada)
Women’s: Kim Moore (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

G3: Impairment in Both Legs
Jordan Thomas (Nashville, Tenn.)

G4: Arm Impairment - Unassisted
Men’s: Vincent Biser (Baltimore, Md.)
Women’s: Kellie Valentine (McKean, Pa.)

G5: Arm Impairment - Assisted
Men’s: Russell Aide (Tucson, Ariz.)
Women’s: Sophia Howard (Hudsonville, Mich.)

G6: Impairment in Both Arms
Matt Parker (Wauconda, Ill.)

G7: Arm & Leg Impairment
Issa Nlareb (France)

G8: Neurological & Coordination Impairment
Men’s: Ford Martin (Nashville, Tenn.)
Women’s: Cassie Sengul (Manassas, Va.)

G9: Seated - Without Trunk Function
Brock Leitner (Canada)

G10: Seated - Near-to-Normal Trunk Function
Max Togisala (Grand Junction, Colo.)

G11: Visual IBGA Classification B1
Jake Olson (Jacksonville, Fla.)

G12: Visual Impairment IBGA Classification B2
Men’s: Tyler Cashman (Gold Canyon, Ariz.)
Women’s: Amanda Cunha (Kaneohe, Hawaii)

G13: Visual IBHA Classification B3
Kenny Gentile (Angola, Ind.)

G14: Short Stature
Dawson Thompson (Pascagoula, Miss.)

G15: Intellectual Disability
Men’s: Matt Snowdon (Annapolis, Md.)
Women’s: Daniella Belford (New Zealand)

Day One: Saturday, June 13

THOMAS TOPS CHICAGO ADAPTIVE OPEN LEADERBOARD AT HALFWAY POINT
OSWEGO, Ill - Never underestimate the power of peer pressure. Especially in the adaptive golf community.

For Jordan Thomas (Nashville, Tenn. / Impairment in Both Legs), that push came to fruition on Saturday at Fox Bend Golf Course in Oswego, as he teed off in the 3rd Chicago Adaptive Open presented by Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. In his first appearance in the Chicago District, Thomas fired a 2-under 70 to top the men’s overall leaderboard after a gusty first round. He sits two shots clear of 2025 event runner-up Victor Postillion (Winfield, Ill. / Leg Impairment Above the Knee), who carded an even-par 72.

Related Links: (Results) / (Photo Gallery) / (Instagram Reel) / (Live Stream Replay) / (Second Round Tee Times)

“We have a wonderful community out here with adaptive players,” said the 37-year-old Thomas after his first loop around Fox Bend. “The feedback has consistently been ‘You need to play in Chicago.’ This is arguably the best run, besides the U.S. [Adaptive] Open, adaptive tournaments. So I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I am always in favor of supporting and growing adaptive golf.”

Back in 2005, Thomas lost both legs below the knees in a boating accident. Longing to maintain an active lifestyle and seeing firsthand in the hospital how many children didn’t have access to prostheses, he started the Jordan Thomas Foundation at just 16 years old. Since then, the Foundation has remained steadfast in its commitment to helping provide prostheses to more than 180 kids across 28 states.

On Saturday, Thomas’ round began with a quick birdie on the par-5 10th. Standing north of 6-foot-5, he further utilized his length off the tee around Fox Bend, notching birdies on the other three par 5s. Despite three bogeys, a red figure on the par-4 ninth, his last hole, wasn’t quite enough to prevent him from a post-round range session.

“It was a really hard day; it was blowing pretty hard,” said Thomas. “I just took my medicine where I could. I just played decent golf - I don’t feel like I hit it great. I’m going to go hit some balls right now. Just one of those days where you get it in the hole.

“The layout was great,” he remarked on the Wadsworth Golf-constructed track. “The greens were amazing. Rolling fast, really receptive. So, it took a while to adjust. I thought the golf course was phenomenal and set up really well.”

Postillion’s return to Fox Bend Saturday, a year after he fell to Ford Martin (Nashville, Tenn. / Neurological & Coordination Impairment) in a playoff for the Overall Title, was not his most recent. The 38-year-old attempted to qualify for the Illinois State Amateur Championship at the facility on Wednesday, and while he didn’t advance to the Championship proper, he did take plenty away from the round.

“Competing with the guys in the Illinois State Amateur qualifier, seeing that caliber of play, it kind of helped me dial in my game for this and get ready for it,” said Postillion. “I’m really happy with that round, considering the wind and that the course was playing long. I wound up with a couple of birdies at the end of the front nine. The swing started to feel good and that kind of carried me through the rest of the round.”

Postillion, who played golf at Hinsdale Central High School, was diagnosed with bone cancer after his freshman season at DePaul. As part of his treatment, he ultimately needed his sciatic nerve cut.

Elsewhere, in the Women’s Overall Division, Kim Moore (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Below the Knee) finished with a 6-over 78 to hold a two-shot advantage over Cassie Sengul (Manassas, Va. / Neurological Condition & Coordination Impairment). Born without a right foot, a severely clubbed left foot and a mild case of spina bifida, Moore is a two-time U.S. Adaptive Open victor, with wins coming in 2022 and 2025.

In the Senior Overall Division, Mark Sissom (Scott City, Mo. / Leg Impairment Above the Knee) began his title defense with a 5-over 77. Sisssom, who was in a motorcycle accident in 2009, captured the Overall Men’s title in the inaugural Missouri Adaptive Championship last October.

The second round will commence on Sunday at 8 a.m., with winners slated to be crowned in 15 Sports Classifications, in addition to the Overall Men’s, Women’s and Senior champions. A purse of $30,000 will be distributed across each Classification. Additionally, through a partnership with CGN, live stream coverage of the final groups will begin around Noon as they make the turn.

CLICK-PEARL CUP
A new addition to this year’s event is the Click-Pearl Cup, a competition between teams from Illinois, Arizona, Indiana and Michigan. Named after avid adaptive golf supporters Jim Click and Steve Pearl, the series began at the Arizona Adaptive Open in December with Illinois and Arizona before expanding to four states at Fox Bend.

The lowest three scores from each team are counted. After the first round, Team Michigan holds a one-shot lead at +24 overall, with Postillion and Team Illinois just one stroke behind.

“The team event is fun,” Postillion said. “There’s a lot of good camaraderie, not just on our team but with the other guys and ladies who are competing on the other teams. It adds another dynamic to the tournament. Golf can often be very individual. You’re playing for yourself, but it’s good to have the team game going on as well.”

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Chicago Adaptive Open

Join us June 13–14, 2026, as the world’s top adaptive golfers return to Fox Bend Golf Course for another unforgettable competition.

Whether you’re an athlete, volunteer, sponsor, or fan, the Chicago Adaptive Open offers an opportunity to celebrate ability, sportsmanship, and inclusion through golf.

Related Links: (Round 1 Tee Times) / (Player Handbook) / (Round 1 Livestream) / (Round 2 Livestream) / (Meet The Field) / (2025 Recap)

2026 Schedule
Thursday, June 11

Player Registration: 12-5 p.m.
Practice Rounds: 12-7 p.m.

Friday, June 12

Player Registration: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
13th Annual USAGA Outing: 9 a.m. shotgun start
CDGA Foundation Nine & Dine Pro-Am presented by Wadsworth Golf Charities Registration/Check-In Open: 1:30-3 p.m.
CDGA Foundation Nine & Dine Pro-Am presented by Wadsworth Golf Charities: 3 p.m. shotgun start
Post-Round Awards and Reception featuring live music: 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 13

Round 1 Tee Times: 9-11:15 a.m.
Post-Round Social/Happy Hours featuring live music: 2-5 p.m.

Sunday, June 14

Final Round Tee Times: 8-10:15 a.m.
Championship and Click-Pearl Cup Awards Ceremony & Celebration: 2:30 p.m.

For those looking to book lodging, CLICK HERE for the CDGA's room block at the AmericInn by Wyndham Oswego. The cutoff date for the discounted rooms is May 28, 2026, at which time any remaining rooms in the block will be placed back into the general hotel inventory. After this date and upon availability, rooms can be booked, however the block rate will no longer be available.

Both days of the Chicago Adaptive Open will again be live-streamed in partnership with College Golf Network and CDGATV this season.

WR4GD Certification

The WR4GD Certification is a process that the game of golf uses to confirm that an individual has an impairment that severely affects their ability to play. There are three different types of passes an individual with a disability can apply for that can allow them to participate in different events. The WR4GD pass ensures that a qualified individual is eligible to participate in any adaptive golf event.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact the CDGA's Tim Robinson at trobinson@cdga.org or (630) 685-2351.