Latest news with #Popert
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kipp Popert three-peats at U.S. Adaptive Open, while Kim Moore wins for a second time
England's Kipp Popert made history with a third consecutive U.S. Adaptive Open victory, trouncing the field by 12 strokes at Woodmont Country Club. Popert becomes only the fourth male to win a USGA championship three years in a row and the first since Tiger Woods won a third U.S. Amateur in 1996. Born 10 weeks early and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, 26-year-old Popert carded a championship record 11-under 61 in the first round and never looked back, adding rounds of 66 and 65 to get to 24 under. In January, the Englishman underwent a toe fusion surgery that took longer than expected to heal. He was unable to play more than four holes of a practice round earlier in the week. "Extremely grateful for my dad," said Popert. "Many of you know, he's a doctor. He's come out the last couple U.S. Opens. Obviously my foot was sore and it really helped, you know, double-dosing and doing everything we could to keep the foot going." Simon Lee and Lachlan Wood took a share of second at 12 under. Popert, the No. 1-ranked disability golfer, will next take part in final qualifying on July 14 for a chance to compete in the U.S. Amateur this August at The Olympic Club. Kim Moore wins women's division at 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open In the women's division, Kim Moore won for a second time and the first since 2022, defeating Bailey Bish and Amanda Cunha by three strokes. Moore closed with a 75 on Wednesday and praised the championship for adding live television coverage this year for the first time, broadcasting the final round on Golf Channel. Moore, 44, was born without a right foot, a severely clubbed left foot and a slight case of spina bifida. "It's just awesome that we were able to get the live coverage this year," said Moore, head coach at Western Michigan. "I think we should be getting live coverage for all the rounds. I know it's going to be something that people would watch." A total of 96 players representing eight impairment categories competed on Woodmont's South course in Rockville, Maryland. While Popert and Moore won the overall titles, each category featured an individual winner, including Max Togisala of Utah, who won the seated division, for a third straight time, by 23 strokes. The 21-year-old – who was set to play college golf before he was paralyzed in a ski accident in February 2022 – had to re-learn the game after his accident from a seated position. "This is a great time for us to shine our light," said Togisala, who rolled in an eagle putt on the 18th to finish off his closing 71 in style.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kipp Popert's 61 sets U.S. Adaptive Open scoring record; two-time seated champion cards 67
Two-time defending men's champion Kipp Popert made history on Monday at the U.S. Adaptive Open. The Englishman carded a championship record 11-under 61 in the opening round on Woodmont Country Club's South Course in Rockville, Maryland. Popert broke his own championship record of 65, which he set last year. One of 96 players representing eight impairment categories, Popert went out in 29 on the strength of two par-5 eagles and three birdies. His back nine effort included five birdies and one bogey. Born 10 weeks early and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Popert endured 10 surgeries en route to becoming to the No. 1-ranked disability golfer. In January, he underwent a toe fusion surgery that he said is taking longer to heal than expected. "My foot's been a bit sore, and and I managed it pretty well the last couple days," said Popert, who only played four holes of a practice round. "What was working – drove it well, wedged it really well and holed the putts. I've missed this, and it was just nice to be back." Last week, Popert advanced through local qualifying for the U.S. Amateur. On July 14, he'll take part in final qualifying for a chance to compete this August at The Olympic Club. "I love the pressure," said Popert of trying to three-peat this week. "I think it's a good thing, it means you're doing something good if you've got pressure. I've always enjoyed that. I've had a lot of months this year of boredom. So yeah, give me all of it; I like it." Popert currently holds a six-shot lead over fellow Englishman Mike Browne (lower limb impairment) and seated player Max Togisala of Utah. Togisala won the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Adaptive Open men's seated category, noting on Instagram that he didn't tee the ball up one time last year during the competition. Togisala now has a chance to win the overall division after a sparkling 5-under performance. The 21-year-old – who was set to play college golf before he was paralyzed in a ski accident in February 2022 – had to relearn the game after his accident from a seated position.
Hamilton Spectator
04-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘It tells you about another life': Inside a Toronto bookstore that does more than sell books
A man lugged two bags full of books to drop to the donation box outside. Inside, a woman snapped up marked-down novels while a father and his two kids were excitedly picking out a few reads. These are typical scenes at Bookends South, a small used bookstore tucked in a corner of the Toronto Reference Library. Entirely volunteer-run, Bookends has quietly served readers and raised funds for public library programs for 25 years. Operated by the registered charity Friends of the Toronto Public Library South Chapter, the store offers gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl for as little as 25 cents. And everything — from pricing books to manning the cash box — is powered by volunteers like Frank Velikonja, who's been with Bookends for 20 years. When Velikonja arrives for his nine-hour shift, he restocks shelves, sorts through donations, and handles managerial tasks like updating schedules and supporting other volunteers. As the longest-serving volunteer at Bookends South, he's also served as president of the Friends of the Toronto Public Library for several years. 'It's always been this sense of love of operating a bookstore, of providing quality materials and being around other people who love books,' Velikonja, 64, said, about his decades of volunteering. 'The camaraderie is extraordinary, and it's an especially great and wonderful environment.' Ken Popert, a retired volunteer, discovered Bookends after browsing the Toronto Public Library website. Now, he volunteers one shift per week, sorting through thousands of donated items the store receives from the public, withdrawn books from the library, and even publishers with overstock. Popert inspects the books' condition, organizes them by subject, and gets them ready for the shelves. Most books are priced at $1, but rare and limited-edition titles are marked with blue dot stickers and priced higher. Popert finds his work particularly interesting, noting that sorting books offers 'a window into the lives of strangers' — such as when he finds money used as bookmarks, which he says happens often. For particularly rare finds, Bookends hosts a major treasure sale every two years at the library's Beeton Hall. Items are sold for just 25 per cent of their market value, raising money for the organization. The funds raised through Bookends help support various Toronto Public Library programs, including literacy and literary programs at the Toronto Reference Library, and fully funding the Elementary School Outreach Program for children. Volunteer Amanda Cheung explained that the store is always looking for new volunteers. While volunteers assist with customer service and inventory management, there is an especially high need for help with sorting donations and pricing books before they make it to the shelves. Volunteers are also needed to organize curated book sales for special events at the library, as well as to fill managerial and leadership roles. Antoinette Fracassi, who has been volunteering at Bookends for three years, works one shift every two weeks. Her tasks include operating the cash register, tidying shelves, assisting customers, and checking out purchases. She first discovered the store while wandering through the library, and with 15 years of experience working in a bookstore, she felt right at home. Now retired and living nearby, Fracassi also volunteers at the University of Toronto's John M. Kelly Library, making Bookends a perfect fit. Fracassi has had many memorable moments volunteering, including a couple who visited the store to purchase 'a few hundred dollars worth of books' for a charity they worked with in Jamaica. They were donating the books to a resource centre there. Volunteering, she says, 'keeps you going.' 'You get this richness when you volunteer because of the people that you meet and the people that you talk to. And it's beautiful, the stories that you hear — it tells you about another life that you've not lived.' As part of the Star's ongoing Toronto the Better initiative, this year we'll highlight the people and organizations making a difference in the GTA and share volunteering opportunities that can inspire real change. Know of a person or group deserving of the spotlight? Email torontothebetter@
