Augusta native wins Ray Rice Sr. Memorial Amputee Golf title

Published 10:51 am Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The winner of the annual Ray Rice Sr. Memorial Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament sees this as another step in what has been the best journey of his life so far.

For the first time, Jarrad Young of Augusta won the two-day tournament held Saturday and Sunday at The Club at Lake Sinclair by shooting rounds of 76 and 78. It was a convincing victory too, by nine shots over his closest competitor in the first flight featuring five players.

Usually, Young is used to that second-place position in his previous tournaments. Speaking just like a Masters winner, Young said the Club course was in good shape and the greens were rolling well. He was a bit critical, though, of his own play.

“Left some shots out there,” said Young. “It wasn’t the course’s fault; it was mine. Off the tee was pretty good for me. If I can get off the tee fine, the rest of my game will go pretty good. I didn’t have a driver in the bag this week.”

Young began playing golf as a teenager. Now 44, he said he was never good enough to be a competitive golfer and play on high school or college teams. He went to a golf school and found players way better than he.

“After this happened, I had a lot more time to dedicate to it,” said Young. “I got better. Didn’t lose much in distance. Didn’t lose much in accuracy.”

As for those he saw at those schools?

“I’d like to play them now,” said Young. “Would be nice to show that I can compete with them, even with one leg.”

When Young says ‘this happened,’ he’s talking about five years ago he was working in a yard and made a “dumb choice” moving around on a forklift.

“You make many dumb choices in life,” said Young. “It catches up with you. I slipped off (the forklift) and it ran me over.”

But …

“I wouldn’t take it back,” he said. “It’s probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I got to slow down and enjoy life. It changed my life. There were times I lived in my car. I’ve been down to the bottom.

“I don’t worry about things anymore. I travel around … play golf most of the time. I love life.”

Young has since started his own businesses such as house flipping (he thought he was just going to flip a house here and there, but it turned into a business) and dumpster rentals (something needed when flipping houses). 

He also takes the chance to talk to people and help them through the loss of a limb.

Young admitted he didn’t know what to expect at the Ray Rice Sr. Memorial in his first visit, but as soon as he arrived he knew he wanted to be a big part of it.

“This is awesome,” said Young. “They also do it for a scholarship fund. It’s kind of another extension of family. I love these people.”

Tournament director Bill Eason announced that Katie Daly is this year’s scholarship recipient, stating that her mother was also a recipient back in the 1990s and that her grandfather was also involved in the program.

Jim McElhiney won this year’s senior division at 161 (83-78) and Stacey Rice won the third flight at 197 (99-98).