We are thrilled to announce the official launch of the 2024 Conquerors Paragolf Team (CPT)! This esteemed team will help to promote adaptive golf and share life-changing opportunities with disabled youth, injured veterans, and first responders throughout the Southwest and the nation. We are particularly excited about what the CPT can bring to the table. With its members’ extensive experience, contagious enthusiasm, and commitment to the cause, we are confident they will help elevate the sport and bring greater attention to their outstanding work in the paragolf community.
2023-2024 CPT
- Robert Walden
- Two-time defending champion of the Conquerors Paragolf Championships (CPC), this accomplished paragolfer also competed in the DP World Tour Singapore Classic this past year. A passionate philanthropist, Rob is a leading proponent of Adaptive golf throughout Arizona/US and is an avid advocate/participant in the PGA Hope program in Phoenix.
- Robert is currently ranked 37th in the WR4GD World Rankings & 2nd in the US Adaptive Golf Rankings (G5 Sports Class).
- Christopher Schmidt
- Chris, also a two-time defending champion of the CPC, successfully defended his low net championship in the US Blind Golf Association National Championships, for the third time in the last four years. Chris also won low gross in the Vision Impaired division of the 2023 Texas Adaptive Open. Chris has an illustrated passion for helping other vision-impaired golfers get involved in the game of golf and the life-changing values that adaptive golf can provide.
- Chris is currently ranked 6th in the USAGR Rankings (G12 Sports Class – Vision Impaired)
- Justin Miller
- New to the team this year, Justin’s return to competitive golf at the CPC this past year, marked a two-year journey to get back into the World Rankings after two additional surgeries on his back in the past two years. Justin’s grit and determination personify the values and ideals of the CPT.
- Justin is currently ranked 4th in the USAGR Rankings (G10 Sports Class – Seated Golfers)
- John Bell
- John, one of the founding members of the CPT, continues to immerse himself in the adaptive golf world with constant participation in youth clinics, organization of competitions, and philanthropic work in his state of Florida and nationwide. His tireless efforts in promoting adaptive golf have proven to be a tremendous asset to the TIU4ALL and Conquerors agenda.
- John is currently ranked 84th in the WR4GD World Rankings and 7th in the USAGR Rankings (G1 Sports Class – Single Amputee)
- Kevin Holland
- Kevin, a one-armed adaptive golfer with cerebral palsy, is one of the most competitive adaptive golfers in the nation. Kevin’s love of competition and his passion for working with adaptive youth golfers and mentoring other one-arm adaptive golfers best illustrate the ethos of the CPT and make Kevin one of the vital components of our mission to further adaptive golf.
- Kevin is currently ranked 23rd in the USAGR Rankings (Men’s G8 Sports Class )
- Amy Bockerstette
- Amy, the founder of “I’ve Got This” (IGT) Foundation, exploded on the national scene with her participation in the 2019 Waste Management Open on national TV and parring the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale with Gary Woodland, US Open champion. New to the CPT lineup this year, Amy will be one of the focal points in this year’s focus on cognitive/intellectual adaptive golf.
- Amy is currently ranked 1st in the USAGR Rankings (Women’s G15 Sports Class) and is the founder of the “I Got This” foundation based in Phoenix Az
- William Mathis
- William, a US Army veteran (Ret.) and vision-impaired adaptive golfer is part of our wounded veterans initiative as well as being a passionate competitor. William is constantly championing the causes of wounded warriors throughout the nation and is the host of the USBGA Rocky Mountain Regionals.
- William is currently ranked 8th in the USAGR Rankings (Men’s G12 Sports Class – Vision Impaired)
- Don Burns
- An integral part of the CPT, Don, who has only been competing in adaptive golf for one year as a below-knee amputee, is a highly decorated USMC (MSGT retired) veteran who, along with William Mathis, will spearhead our efforts in the wounded veterans’ community. Don is based in Yuma where he has actively promoted adaptive golf as a viable life-changing tool with the military. Don has also won a gold, two silver, and one bronze medal in the DOD Military Challenge games this year, held in San Diego (wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, standing pistol, and standing rifle).
- Alex Fourie
- Alex Fourie was born with one arm, smokes it 260 off the tee and is a scratch golfer. Alex tells us about growing up in an orphanage 70 miles outside of Chernobyl, overcoming adversity and reveals his mental approach that helped him become a teaching pro and a scratch player against all odds. Alex’s story is an inspiration and can serve as a blueprint for us on and off the course. https://singlehandgolf.com/
- Peter Sanders
- Our newest member of this year’s team is Pete Sanders. Pete is a below-knee amputee who just started playing adaptive golf in 2020. A native of New York, he previously worked in the nuclear industry at commercial power plants and government national laboratories. The 2023 CPC was his first competitive adaptive golf event and he finished as runner-up in the G1 Sports category. Pete and his wife Kitch will be an integral part of our future promotional plans for TIU4ALL. In his first year in the WR4GD, Peter has worked his way up to 317 in the world rankings.
- Kody Conover
- Wellman “Kody” Conover was born in San Luis Obispo, CA on October 20, 1994, is currently 29 years old. His parents are Clifford & Kitty who taught him the value of hard work and fundamentals from a very young age. Kody’s journey in golf began while he was a little boy when he used to play with his grandma when they lived in Roosevelt, UT. Kody has developed his athletic discipline golf from playing baseball, bowling, and basketball throughout his teenage years. He is currently playing in multiple tours such as USDGA (US Disabled Golf Association), US AmTour, and APT (Amateur Players’ Tour). He has won multiple tournaments with all tours.
- His greatest accomplishment was the 2023 Player of the Year for the US AmTour, which he followed up with the 2022 Player of the Year on the Amateur Players’ Tour (Las Vegas Chapter). He also played in the 2023 USGA Adaptive US Open in Pinehurst, NC. Kody takes pride in his parents and who they are. At any time, he will share the love he has for both of them, especially his mother, Kitty, in heaven (she is the reason he wears pink at most tournaments).
As part of our ongoing efforts to support adaptive golf programs, we couldn’t be more delighted about this new development. Now, with the new CPT in place, we are looking forward to even more partnerships and shared successes in the coming year.
Thanks to everyone for being a part of the journey, and stay tuned for more updates from the CPT and the paragolf community as we continue to grow and evolve together.
Warm wishes,
The Conquerors Paragolf Team.