The European Disabled Golf Association’s drive to showcase golfers with a disability on a world stage continues in September when six players compete in the Celebrity Cup alongside The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles.
The biennial showpiece, which pits Catriona Matthew’s Team Europe against Team USA, led by Juli Inkster, will bring together the world’s best female golfers, and six female golfers with a disability will this year join them by playing the Celebrity Cup match on Thursday September 12.
The six women taking part in the Celebrity Cup have an array of Paralympic, Special Olympic and World Championship medals in golf, swimming, table tennis and tennis, and all play golf to a high standard.
The European Tour is at the forefront of the drive for inclusivity in golf and in May announced a partnership with the EDGA which includes two new tournaments for Golfers with Disability to run alongside two Rolex Series events in 2019.
The 36-hole EDGA Scottish Open was played over the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, while in November the 36-hole EDGA Dubai Finale will be played together with the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Brendan Lawlor, who is ranked third in the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability, triumphed at the EDGA Scottish Open with rounds of 77-71 while taking on the same course set up as the European Tour professionals competing in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, and in doing so earned a spot in the KPMG Trophy on the European Challenge Tour.
Let’s meet the six women who are set to take part in the Celebrity Cup match next month…
Monique Kalkman (The Netherlands)
Kalkmanhas Paralympic gold medals in two sports – one in table-tennis and three in tennis. The four-time former International Tennis Federation World Number One and Hall of Famer had to overcome cancer at just 14 years of age, and the treatment left her paraplegic.
Daphne van Houten (The Netherlands)
The reigning European Women's Champion, a title she won at her first attempt, is one of the game's brightest talents. A routine test at just 12 years old found a life-changing issue in van Houten’s back, yet she became the first woman to break into the top ten of the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability in mid-2019.
Jennifer Sråga (Germany)
Sråga has just completed her studies and is awaiting news on which university she will join. She is the current EGA European silver medallist at individual level and advises people with disability: ‘Don't take life too seriously. You can't change it, so we have to accept and stay strong. Believe in yourself.’
Aimi Bullock (England)
After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Aimi became the first woman to represent England Golf in the EGA European Team Championships Nations Cup. Aimi also helps EDGA with its development initiatives and is a participant in The R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development programme.
Grace Anne Braxton (USA)
Braxton has three gold medals from the Special Olympics – one from swimming and two from golf. Earlier this year she won silver at the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics, and she also serves on the Virginia Special Olympics Board of Directors.
Tineke Loogman (The Netherlands)
Loogman took up golf nearly 20 years ago and was one of the first competitive women in the EDGA. It became such a passion that she and her husband set up their own course and practice centre in Holland.
