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Junior Caminero's three-run home run (24)

Junior Caminero's three-run home run (24)

Yahoo12 hours ago
Junior Caminero takes this one deep to left field to give the Rays' an early 3-0 lead
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Connections: Sports Edition hints for July 21, 2025, puzzle No. 301
Connections: Sports Edition hints for July 21, 2025, puzzle No. 301

New York Times

timea few seconds ago

  • New York Times

Connections: Sports Edition hints for July 21, 2025, puzzle No. 301

Need help with today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle? You've come to the right place. Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores. A quick public service announcement before we continue: The bottom of this article includes one answer in each of the four categories. So if you want to solve the board hint-free, we recommend you play before continuing. Advertisement You can access Monday's game here. Game No. 301's difficulty: 3 out of 5 Scroll below for one answer in each of the four categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yellow: PREPARE Green: LOB Blue: YARD GOATS Purple: BACK The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments! (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic)

USGA National Tournament Advances Adaptive Golf
USGA National Tournament Advances Adaptive Golf

Forbes

timea few seconds ago

  • Forbes

USGA National Tournament Advances Adaptive Golf

Cassie Sengul (Coordination Impairment) started the final round of the U.S. Adaptive Open with the ... More lead, but a final round 83 dropped her to fourth place. Sinking a birdie putt on 18 in the third and final round of a national golf championship to finish in a tie for second place may not be on par with hitting a walk-off home run or catching the game-winning touchdown. But for 25-year old Bailey Bish (Coordination Impairment), making that 12-foot putt at the recent United States Golf Association's (USGA) 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open Championship on live television in front of friends and family was cause for celebration. The defending overall women's champion shot the best round of the day (73), and while not enough to catch eventual two-time winner Kim Moore (Lower Leg Impairment), Bailey's dramatic comeback from a second round 82 put her in contention for a repeat. The weather on day two was an added impairment for the entire field. 'It was a 7-hour round and it was 111-degree heat index with the humidity,' said the Tucson native. 'I had some issues with my POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and got very lightheaded.' Bailey also suffers from dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions. The combination of the two disorders affects her body control of blood flow and heart rate and also impacts temperature regulation. 'But my coach Susie Meyers always says 'beware of the sick or injured golfer' and I was very excited that I was able to play the final day and put up a good score.' Bailey Bish swings as coach Susie Meyers looks on while holding Bailey's crutches. The Field Bailey's was just one of the compelling stories at the 4th U.S. Adaptive Open held recently at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, MD. The three-day, 54-hole, stroke play event featured 96 of the best adaptive golfers from 34 states and 10 countries, competing for the overall men's and women's title, and honors in eight individual impairment categories. It was a diverse field in gender, disabilities and age, with the youngest competitor just 16 years old and the oldest 75. A WR4GD Pass (World Ranking for Golfers with Disability) was required to qualify and compete, and a World Handicap System™ Handicap Index of 36.4 or less. This year a cut after round two narrowed the field to the top 20 overall men, top 10 overall women, top 3 men from each Impairment Category, top 2 women from each Impairment Category, and any player within 5 strokes of their Impairment Category leader, and ties. A total of 42 players made it to the final round. Woodmont Country Club will also host the 2026 U,S. Adaptive Open. Adaptive golf is not 'less than' able-bodied golf. It's actually 'more than.' These talented athletes contend with 'more than' just the course or weather. They also deal with physical, cognitive or sensory impairments that impact their game, sometimes from day to day, moment to moment. Wheelchairs, crutches, custom golf clubs, grip devices, braces, prosthetics and seated/stand golf carts are among the assistive devices that help some of them compete. But make no mistake. This was a field of elite amateur and professional competitors who have triumphed in state, local and even international tournaments, playing high level golf. Overall men's winner, Kipp Popert (Coordination Impairment), for example, posted a tournament-record 61 in the first round. He went on to shoot a record 24-under par to win his third consecutive U.S. Adaptive Open by a remarkable12 strokes. Brandon Canesi, born without arms, plays to a 4.7 handicap. He was a member of U.S. team in the ... More inaugural Cairns Cup in 2022, winning all his matches. The Scene Stunning Woodmont CC, in the first of a two-year term as championship site, undertook significant renovations to host the adaptive golf event. Bunkers were redesigned with seated players in mind. Ramps were created with at least one point into every bunker where a seated cart could enter and exit. Multiple tee boxes were also in place to equalize the playing field among the eight impairment categories. Said Bailey, 'It was an absolutely beautiful course, the nicest one I ever played. The USGA and Woodmont really thought about everything when it comes to the adaptive needs.' She added, 'I think it really gave everybody a chance to win the tournament and to play well, like a seated player could win the tournament. I think that's really how adaptive golf should be.' Added good friend Amanda Cunha (Visual Impairment), who tied with Bailey for second place overall, 'I would say the condition of the course blew us out of the park, how beautiful and manicured the fairways and greens were.' Prime time exposure For the first time in tournament history the final round aired live on Golf Channel, introducing viewers to adaptive golf and the exceptional athletes in competition. Excitement outweighed nerves as they showcased their skills on a national stage. Most of the adaptive or disabled community is not on the golf course and these golfers want to change that. They understand the assignment. 'Adaptive golf is one of the minorities that you can become a part of any day,' explained Amanda, who has no central vision due to a condition called Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. 'Disability is one of those things that can happen to anybody, whether it's an accident or genetic mutation, anybody can be a part of it.' Amanda Cunha's dad lines her up for every shot off the green. Inspiring others The competitors are vocal about encouraging others to hit the links. Each is an ambassador for the sport, responding to social media DMs, emails and in-person inquiries. They generously share their personal challenges and tips with anyone who either has or knows somebody with impairment issues. 'Getting to share my experiences and just help people feel like they're not alone is one of the biggest honors,' expressed Bailey. Amanda, who is incoming captain of the University of Arizona Adaptive Golf Team, would definitely like some company, especially in her impairment category. 'I'm always looking for people and especially women who are visually impaired who would like to be golfers so that we can have more people showing up at these tournaments.' Her advice to potential adaptive golfers? Stick with it. 'Even if you try out the sport and you get discouraged from not seeing the results immediately or, you know, within the first month or two, it really takes time to work at it. And all of us, we may seem like we're shooting in the 70s, but it's taken us years.' Bailey is a perfect example. She could barely complete a nine-hole round, much less a 54-hole event. But after pushing herself to build strength and endurance, she competed in her first U.S. Adaptive Open and finished third in 2023. The following year, she pulled out a win. Vince Biser is a 7-time North American One-Armed Golfer Association Championship. He was born with ... More utero cerebral palsy and suffered a stroke in the womb that left him without full use of the right side of his a teen, he underwent drastic brain surgery to control seisures. Competition and Camaraderie The adaptive golf community is one of joy, friendship, collaboration, support and, of course, competition. Joked Amanda about tying with Bailey, 'I keep telling her and her family, I'm like, you know what? Next year it's going to come down to the playoffs between the two of us and that's going to be really fun.' Brandon 'Nubz' Canesi (Multiple Limb Impairment), who was born without hands, added, 'We all have different stories on how we found the game of golf or on how golf found us. But you know, at the end of the day, that's what we all have in common and it's just amazing.' The 33-year old prolific social media influencer has seen friendships grow as players come across each other more and more on the growing adaptive golf circuit. 'Whenever we see each other, it's like no time has passed. Golf brings us all together and we all want to do win and see each other do well.' Cassie Sengul was the overall women's champion at the inaurural Arizona Adaptive Golf Championship. ... More She will return to Phoenix in December, 2025 to defend her title. Show Me the Green While most adaptive golf competitors have no corporate backing, Brandon's social media presence and on course talent led to his becoming a Cobra Puma professional adaptive brand ambassador, featured in the company's YouTube 'Go Chase More' series. Bailey has had the support of Walt Conger and Click Control Marketing since 2022, even before she could play complete rounds of golf. For the majority, however, there may be free club fittings and discounted clubs, or free hats and accessories, but little financial support. Some top golfers don't even try to qualify for certain events, knowing the cost of travel – to the qualifier and then a return trip to the tournament – would be prohibitive. In a monumental display of support this year Deloitte, the official professional services sponsor of the USGA, provided travel-related stipends for participating U.S. Adaptive Open players. It was a surprise move that was greeted enthusiastically by the competitors and their families, many of whom had never had the opportunity to see their loved one play tournament golf. Event and individual sponsorships will be critical in elevating adaptive golf to the larger stage it deserves. Of the 40 WR4GD ranked adaptive tournaments in 2025, the Chicago Adaptive Open and World Golf Village Adaptive Championship are the only ones to offer prize money, purses of $30,000 and $50,000 respectively. It's a topic that came up often in conversations with the Adaptive Open athletes. Said one, 'Getting purses would go a long way to ensure that more adaptive golfers are able to go to these tournaments. Sponsors could see that it's a good investment of their time and resources. And having purses would also give credibility to the sport and show that adaptive athletes really are elite athletes and we're very good at what we do.' What other changes might benefit the game? Veteran competitive adaptive golfers have some interesting suggestions. Recognizing the complexity in ensuring a level playing field with so many impairment categories and skill levels, one golfer suggested the possible creation of two tours – amateur and professional, and an official governing body to oversee the sport. Brandon thinks long term. 'My biggest goal is that it becomes a legit tour. In my mind, I don't see any reason why within the next five or 10 years we don't have Golf Channel coverage at all the biggest events. Or why we don't have purses and bigger sponsors and contracts, just like the pros. You know, we're just another level of golf.' Another competitor mentioned the pace of play issue the first two days of the tournament. It's a difficult one to resolve because the groupings were mixed – men and women with multiple differing impairments teeing off from staggered tees. The challenge is to retain diversity among the groups, but somehow increase the pace. Woodmont Country Club and its members treated the competitors to a first-class experience. The 19th Hole The USGA has been instrumental in growing adaptive golf. So have organizations like the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA), United States Disabled Golf Association (USDGA), the American Disabled Golfers Association (ADGA), North American One-Armed Golfer Association, and U.S. Blind Golfer Association. All are lobbying for adaptive golf to be included as a sanctioned sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. It's a long shot, but there's no doubt it will eventually join the other 29 sports. In the meantime, the season is in mid-swing, with upcoming championships in Michigan, Toronto and the Phoenix Cup in September at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix, AZ, an international match play event featuring Team USA versus Team Europe. Amanda Cunha will miss the first week of school in August while she travels to the U.K. as one of 10 recipients of the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club Scholarship. The only disabled golfer selected, she'll spend time with an R&A mentor, host several adaptive golf clinics and spend another week at iconic St. Andrews for the 'week of scholars.' As the U.S. Adaptive Golf Championship concluded, Bailey Bish echoed the sentiments of her entire group of competitors, friends and colleagues on the course. 'I am very proud of myself. I've come a long way and you know, sometimes I have to pinch myself and remember how far I've come. And there are really no words to describe how good it feels to know that I've been able to achieve so much.'

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