The G4D Open | The debrief

Everything you need to know from The G4D Open at Celtic Manor Resort.

Maiden win for Lee as Sräga denies Van Houten hat-trick

Both the men’s and women’s championships provided drama to the final hole, with Simon Seungmin Lee from the Republic of Korea and Germany’s Jennifer Sräga emerging as champions.

Making his debut at The G4D Open, Lee closed with a one-over-par 71 over the Roman Road Course to finish at three over, one shot ahead of 36-hole leader Issa Nlareb A Amang of Cameroon.

Lee, a winner on the G4D Tour in Australia in 2024 and at the US Adaptive Open in 2022, mixed two birdies with three bogeys to finish at three over for the 54-hole championship.

"I wasn’t able to play in The G4D Open in previous years because of my domestic tournament schedule, so I’m really happy that the days worked out this year and I could finally come and compete here,” said Lee, who is autistic.

Sräga denied Daphne van Houten from the Netherlands a hat-trick of titles after also making a crucial par on the 18^th to triumph by a stroke.

After coming second in the women’s event last year on her debut, the German finished with a vital closing par while her rival made double bogey.

Born with achondroplasia, commonly called short stature, Sräga’s two birdies on the front nine also proved key in what was another tightly contested final-day duel.

“It feels great," said Sräga. "I came here with the aim to win because last year it was a little bit sad.

"This year I tried to stay strong, stay focused on the last hole. I'm really happy that this year I made it.

Sport Class winners celebrated

The G4D Open, staged in partnership with The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA, was held at Celtic Manor for the first time after three previous editions at Woburn.

Established in 2023, the fourth edition featured nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status, aged 16-70, representing 25 countries.

Sport Classes, which have been in use since the inaugural edition of The G4D Open, were developed to move golf closer to the requirements of the International Paralympic Committee.

Ensuring a fair competition for all, a gross prize was awarded in each sport class, covering various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.

Kipp Popert, men's individual champion in 2024, and Aimi Bullock were among the gross prize winners across the men's and women's competitions.

To view a breakdown of the sport class winners, click here.

Home hero Willis hits opening tee shot

At 8am on Wednesday. Richie Willis had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot.

A member at Celtic Manor for 25 years, and a former club captain, the 68-year-old made his Championship debut on home soil in Wales.

A golfer since his 20s, playing in the summer off-season away from his life as a semi-professional footballer, his life dramatically changed after he needed an above-the-knee right leg amputation following a road traffic accident aged 41.

On 22 December, 1999, what was later deemed a freak gust of wind sent the articulated lorry he was driving on to its side and into the central reservation.

His liver was also lacerated and he was initially only given a 10% chance of survival, with golf since playing a huge part in his rehabilitation.

Reflecting on fittingly being given the honour of the opening tee shot, he said: "Perhaps some nerves kicked in first off, plus I had all my grandkids running around, and my mind was all over the place at one stage.

"But I did my best, and that's all I can do really. It was great actually (on having his grandkids at Celtic Manor).

"All of my family were here, so got some nice photographs. It was really enjoyable."

Despite an 82 - five shots better than his opening-day total - Willis fell short of his aim to make the 36-hole cut.

Flynn's feelgood story

Like Willis, Conal Flynn was one of 19 players making their G4D Open debuts.

A late entrant, the Irishman's participation saw the 17-year-old tee it up alongside his role model, countryman and men's defending champion Brendan Lawlor.

It was in 2023 that Lawlor surprised Flynn, then 15, with a visit to his family home after being credited as an inspiration in a heartfelt social media post.

Following the initial encounter, Flynn was invited by Lawlor to attend the Irish Open later that year and met more of his heroes, including Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington.

Among the most recognised players with a disability, Lawlor won last year’s ISPS HANDA Irish Open for Golfers with a Disability as well as becoming a two-time G4D Open winner and Flynn credited his compatriot for the support he has received.

“The G4D Open has been a great eye opener, target to reach for," said Flynn.

"Hopefully over the next few years, I can compete at the top level and contend to win.

“At last year’s Irish Open for disability golf, [Lawlor] was there and offered a lot of tips, advice. He’s very good with his time.”

DP World Tour referee with cerebral palsy proud of G4D progress

Richard Warren is a regular referee at events run by the European Tour group, including at The G4D Open.

A Level 4 Rules of Golf qualified referee, he was part of a ten-strong team of officials in Wales.

Having studied Sports Management at university, he first worked for the Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain & Ireland at their Belfry Headquarters and has officiated in an estimated 200 professional tournaments since starting out on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

"I honestly like the fact that every day I wake up, I know it is not going to be the same," said Warren, whose tenacity and stoicism are attributes which are easy to recognise when you spend time with him.

"That excitement of not knowing what is going to happen next for me is something I really enjoy."

Having served as a regular referee on the G4D Tour, which ran events alongside the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour from 2022 to 2025, Warren is proud of how golf has "embraced" being inclusive.

"I remember when I was a junior golfer, none of this was on the cards really," he said.

"I personally tried to run events but there wasn’t the traction.

"To see how the game has embraced G4D and the adaptive ability of the game is great.

"I have always said golf is a unique sport where anyone can play it. Whether they are in a wheelchair or blind, there is a mechanism for them to hit a golf ball."

Getting players to try golf for the first time

The Championship’s organisers collaborated to ensure ever greater opportunities for everyone in the G4D (golf for the disabled) space.

The R&A, partnered by the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA, created a packed schedule of events at the Celtic Manor, welcoming people of all ages with disability to try the sport for the first time.

Close to the Roman Road Course, an international conference was staged to share the best ideas and innovative thinking on G4D with influential golf and health voices from around the world.

Being one of the most inclusive championships ever staged, as part of its legacy, The G4D Open has become a significant forum for growing the sport, this year being staged in Wales for the first time after an opening three years at Woburn.

With golf try-out areas adjacent to the course, schoolchildren and students aged 12-21 experienced the joy of trying golf for the first time as part of organised D3 activity (short golf over three holes with safe and fun equipment).

“This is definitely the best thing we have ever done outside our college,” exclaimed a student from ALN (Additional Learning Needs) Neath Port Talbot College, as young adults (16+) enjoyed high-energy D3 games led by Welsh PGA Advanced Professional Coach Hannah Bowen and EDGA’s Head of Education Mark Taylor.

For a full breakdown of all the off-the-course activities, click here.