Fourteen Special Olympics Florida golfers and five Unified partners (competition partners without disabilities) competed in the 8^th Annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament, September 14-17 at the PGA Golf Club at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, FL.

FloridaÂ’s Golfers:
Wayne Buckner, Apopka, Level IV
Jamie Choban, Wellington, Level IV
Rion Coon, Orlando, Level IV
Brad Davis, Lantana, Level I
Chris Dragone, Wellington, Level II, Unified
Daniel Dragone, Wellington, Level II, Unified Partner
Jace Feiner, Orlando, Level I
Charlie Gartman, Bradenton, Level III, Unified
Jeff Gartman, Bradenton, Level III, Unified Partner
Robert Grist, Melbourne, Level II, Unified Partner
Kristopher Harris, Orlando Level I
Kenyatta Johnson, Ft. Pierce, Level IV
Irvin Kinser, Gotha, Level II, Unified Partner
Kevin Kinser, Gotha, Level II, Unified
Chris Pearson, Indialantic, Level 1
Donald Singleton, Orlando, Level IV
Tonya Snodgrass, Melbourne, Level II, Unified Partner
Anthony Thomas, Palm Harbor, Level V
Tom Watkins, Melbourne, Level I
Cindy Dropeski, Melbourne, Head of Delegation

220 Competitors from 26 U.S. states will competed in...
Level I: Individual skills competition – golfers are tested in up to six skills: full swing tests with a wood and an iron, short game tests with pitch and chip shots, and putting a long putt and a short putt.
Level II: Alternate shot team play – 9-hole – a nine-hole alternate shot format that teams a Special Olympics player with a non-Special Olympics player of more advanced skill and knowledge.
Level III: Unified Sports team play- 18-hole – an 18-hole alternate shot format that teams a Special Olympics player with a non-Special Olympics player of similar ability.
Level IV: Individual Stroke Play- 9-hole
Level V: Individual Stroke Play- 18-hole

See results!

Check out photos of Florida's golfers at the NIT!

PGA of America is providing a website where you can see daily results, event photos and read stories from the NIT.

You can also check out the NIT Fact Sheet.

Special Olympics will be included in the Wednesday, Sept. 19, edition of Golf Channel's "Golf Central," 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. The tournament will also be included on Golfweek TV, airtime TBA. However, Golfweek retains their footage online for 30 days at www.golfweek.com 

The NIT is sponsored by the PGA of America, the PGA Tour and the United States Golf Association.

Since The PGA first introduced golf to Special Olympics in 1988, the game has become an official Special Olympics sport with some 13,000 athletes competing in 17 countries. 

The first international introduction of Special Olympics golf came in 1991 when nearly 4,000 Special Olympics athletes participated in daily PGA golf clinics at their Summer World Games in Minneapolis.  While volunteers and PGA Professionals grew the program locally, Special Olympics prepared for their first exhibition golf tournament at the 1995 Special Olympics Summer World Games.  The Summer World Games hosted the first official Special Olympics World Golf Tournament in 1999 and the annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament began in 2000.

The PGA of America makes annual grants to the organization, provides rules expertise at tournaments, free golf clinics and many PGA members volunteer their time to local programs.  Since 1992, the USGA has provided financial support and guidance contributing to the growth of the international golf program and provides a USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern who serves as the annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament Director.

---