SCI Superstar: Max Togisala, 3x Winner of the US Adaptive Open

It’s not every day a newly paralyzed person becomes a golf star, but as they say, timing is everything. Paralyzed in 2022, the same year as the inaugural year of the US Adaptive Open, Max Togisala, a T12 paraplegic from Utah, had an inclination that golfing again would be possible. “I love golf, and I think there should be a way for me to still enjoy it,” he said to the media. And boy was he right.

No Rest for the Weary

While some people with new spinal cord injuries need time to figure out their next steps, Max took a different route and got back into the swing of things right away; quite literally. A lifelong golfer since the age of 3 who was on his way to play golf in college, Max found himself suddenly sidelined from his favorite sport when he was paralyzed on a skiing vacation.

While in rehabilitation, Max discovered the existence of adaptive golf and the US Adaptive Open, and he knew right away those were goals he wanted to achieve. Amazingly, after learning to play adaptive golf with the VertaCat adaptive golf wheelchair, he became competitive in the sport quickly and decided to compete as soon as possible, which he was able to do.

Missing the ability to move his hips to swing the ball, Max worked hard to modify his swing to achieve the yardage he’s now able to reach, with some of his drives reaching over 200+ yards. By 1 ½ years after his injury and loads of practice on local courses, Max was ready to compete, and entered the 2023 US Adaptive Open.

Quick Rise to Winner’s Circle

It’s been a veritable whirlwind since Max entered his first US Adaptive Open in 2023, which he won with his lowest round a score of 70. In 2024, not only did he win the US Adaptive Open again that year, he served as the PJ Boatwright intern for the Utah Golf Association State Amateur Championship. Thanks to Max’s personality and desire to get the word out on adaptive golf, he has quickly become one of the most well-known seated golfers in the country.

And this year at the 2025 US Adaptive Open, the game was particularly kind to Max. On the first day of the Open, he beat the record for the lowest round in the Seated Players category with 5-under 67. He also finished his final round with an eagle, and shooting rounds of 67-76-71, which enabled him to win his division by more than 20 shots.

“People were shocked to see a seated player shoot under par,” said Max to the media, who’s more excited than ever about the future of the sport. Now a 3-time winner of the US Adaptive Open and a newlywed as of last year to his new wife Grace, he is wholeheartedly looking forward to the future. Max also admits that his spinal cord injury, despite its difficulties and setbacks, has made a surprising impact on his life that he never would have expected.

It’s amazing the power that adaptive golf can have on one’s mindset and mental health. We couldn’t be more proud to offer adaptive golf via AdapTee Golf, a version of adaptive golf for quadriplegics or those who can’t swing a club, through our organization.

— Follow Max on IG: https://www.instagram.com/max_togisala/?hl=en