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Bradley Schubert, President
Bradley has been a below the knee amputee since September of 2014, after battling osteomyelitis for years and several surgeries. Three weeks before his amputation in 2014, he rode along with then president of MWAGA, Jeff Linton, and the rest is history. Bradley attended his first MWAGA tournament the next year in 2015 and joined the MWAGA Board in 2016 and has been President of MWAGA since 2018. Since then, he has become a fixture in adaptive golf in the Midwest Region and nationally. Bradley is the Midwest Trustee for the National Amputee Golf Association and was named the captain for the 2022 Phoenix Cup team that represented the USA in 2022 in England. Bradley will be representing the USA as Vice Captian in 2024 Phoenix Cup at St Andrews, Scotland. When Bradley isn't playing golf, he enjoys his time with his family doing a lot of other activities. Bradley lives in McHenry IL, with his wife Heidi and children, Brooke and Tyler. Bradley is also the Director of the Friends of McHenry Golf, a non-for-profit group that supports developing junior golf in McHenry. He works as a MultiMedia Instructional Designer for Cambium Networks in Rolling Meadows, IL. And is responsible for the company's training and eLearning content that is delivered to employees, partners and end-users globally. |
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Jonathan Snyder, Vice President
Jonathan was born in Charlotte NC in 1981, He grew up as quite the athlete, excelling in all sports, especially basketball, he played AAU basketball all through High School. Jonathan was different, He was born with an undeveloped left hand. When Jonathan was 22 years old he started playing the game of golf regularly. It has since become his passion. It became such a positive therapy for Jonathan. He started at Red Bridge Golf club on the Cart Staff as a volunteer for zero pay. He worked his way up the ranks from Assistant Golf Professional, Event Coordinator, Head Golf Professional, to General Manager of entire golf club. The only thing better than Jonathan's golf game is his attitude about it. “I always keep a positive attitude & try not look at the negative things” It does not take a pro to realize he isn’t just talking about golf. In 2018 Jonathan accepted the Adaptive Golf Director position at Freedom Golf Association. Teaching Golf & giving Lessons is now his passion in life. Since becoming the Director of golf operations Jonathan has created a model that has provided record number of Adaptive golf lessons, putting FGA on the forefront of Adaptive golf lessons in the United States & recognized as the largest provider of Adaptive golf lessons in the United States. Jonathan has been on the board and Vice President since 2018. |
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John Benway, Treasurer
John became an amputee in 1978 due to a motorcycle accident. He became an avid skier and eventually became a certified adaptive ski instructor. He had never played golf until around 1987. He went to his first tournament in 1989 in Wisconson at the prompting of a fellow ski instructor, Bud Sanders. When Bud mentioned he and Don were forming the MWAGA, John volunteered to handle the financials and became the organization's first Treasurer. He also has held the positions of Secretary and President. John served as MWAGA's President from 2010-2012. . |
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Heidi Schubert, Secretary
For several years Heidi has been referred to as the First Lady of MWAGA or the Director of FUN. Heidi became an official member of the MWAGA board in 2020 after volunteering during the tournaments over the last 6 years. She enjoys being a part of such a close knit community, and having the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, hearing their stories and many becoming as close as family. She’s been married to Brad since 2003, and they have 2 wonderful children (Brooke and Tyler) that keep them busy. Heidi works at a child care center in Libertyville, Illinois where she’s been since 2004. She started as a teacher and has worked her way up to being the assistant director at the center. |
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Don and Donna Zommer, Directors
Don Became an amputee in 1962 after an industrial accident. He started playing golf in 1963 and became a life member of NAGA in 1965. In 1995 he became the Midwest Trustee for NAGA, a position he held for 10 years. Don became a First Swing instructor in 1992 and is still helping others. In 2001, Don and Bud Sanders became the founders of the Midwestern Amputee Golf Association, and is a past President. Donna has been by Don's side for years and was the volunteer coordinator for the MWAGA Tournament since its inception. Donna continues to be one of the greatest supporters of MWAGA over the years. Don and Donna open thier home to the Board Members regularly to hold meetings. |
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Denise Riesen, Director
Denise Riesen is an award-winning freelance photographer with more then 20 years experience. Her work is inspired by her travels and life experiences, capturing compelling images for sports, commercial, portrait, art, and decorative product designs. She has been the official photographer for MWAGA tournaments since the start in 2001, as well as photographed various other amputee sports events and tournaments throughout Chicago. She has also produced a photography book, Life Without Limb, which was greatly inspired by her work with amputees. For more information about Denise and her work, visit www.riesenphotography.com |
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Geoff Zommer, Director
Geoff is the younger son of MWAGA Founder, Don Zommer. Being Don's son, Geoff never knew anything other than having a father who was an amputee. As a child Don took the whole family to many national tournaments, and he was always amazed by the abilities of all the players. Geoff joined the board in 2019 and looks to assist the organization to continue its mission. |
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Sarah Larson, Director
Sarah has a left above the elbow congenital amputation as a result of amniotic band syndrome. She was also born with a meningocele which is a form of spina bifida, although she doesn't have any impairment walking.
Sarah never let her “disability” stop her from anything she wanted to achieve. Sarah was active her whole life, participating in basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading all the way through grade school. She was also actively involved with her state’s children’s hospital oftentimes serving as a poster child during telethons to help raise money. Sarah started golfing in 2012 to spend more time with her spouse, and quickly started play in local leagues, followed by competitive golf, which included being an honored Phoenix Cup teammate. Sarah went on to become active and with her state’s Amputee Golf Association, North American One Armed Golfer Association, and other adaptive golf chapters. She has now expanded her involvement to include the USAGA. Sarah believes that ANYONE can golf and tells others, “Never give up on what you want.” Sarah hopes to inspire other adaptive athletes or anyone thinking that something isn’t possible. Only YOU can get in the way of your own success. Sarah is a positive face for adaptive golf and constantly encourages and cheers on her fellow players, no matter how their game may be that day. "It's one swing at a time, and don't forget to have fun." |
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David McCready, Director
David has been an above knee amputee since May of 2007. A traumatic car accident at the age of 22 that nearly took his life would ultimately require amputation.
David had played golf since around the age of 10 when his grandfather gave him his first set of clubs. He was a multi-sport athlete thru high school (Football, Wrestling, Baseball) and played club baseball at Ball State University for several years. Although he played golf recreationally, he found his way back to the golf course to play competitively in 2010. Playing in the Kentucky, Michigan and NAGA National in Nashville. “After my amputation, I knew I wanted to continue to compete thru sport. I fell in love with golf because it was something that I have played my whole life and I knew that I could still be competitive with my able bodied friends.” David has played in many regional and national adaptive tournaments since 2010 and in 2020 he was named to the US Phoenix Cup team. He joins MWAGA in support of growing the game of golf for all and to create an annual event in Indiana. David works as a prosthetic sales representative for Ottobock Healthcare. He resides in the Indianapolis area with his wife Chelsey and daughter Lynn. |
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Bobby Hutchinson, Director
Bobby has been an above knee amputee since October of 2009. He was injured in Operation Desert Storm in February of 1991. Doctors diagnosed him with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and told him that he would likely never walk again. Navy doctors recommended he have his leg amputated in July of 1991. He was 19 years old and elected no tot have his leg amputated at that time. After doing some research on his diagnosis he was able to learn to walk again. He was injured at work in 2003 and that injury aggravated the injury sustained in Saudi Arabia/ODS. This time he was unfortunately not able to overcome the symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Severe muscle wasting and infection made it clear it was time to go through with the amputation. After having his leg amputated, he never dreamed he would be able to golf again. At this point he was unable to wear his prosthesis due to phantom limb pain. He learned that they have adaptive carts in 2010 through the recreational department at VA Medical Center, Jefferson Barracks that would allow him to once again play golf. His first tournament was in the Missouri Amputee Golf Association’s Show-me Classic in 2012 playing from an adaptive cart. It wasn't until 2019 after getting his prosthesis fitted properly and making some positive life decisions that he was able to start wearing prosthetic leg daily. He started playing in multiple amputee/adaptive tournaments in 2020. He loves that the amputee/adaptive golf community is like family. After playing in his first National Amputee Golf Association tournament in 2021, Bradley Schubert, President of Midwestern Amputee Golf Association called him and as he recalls asked him if he would like to go to England. His response was, “sure… for what?”. Bobby didn’t exactly have his best tournament at Nationals in Las Vegas. Then Bradley asked him if he would like to be on the US Phoenix Cup team in 2022. He traveled to Birmingham, England in August of 2022 and even though Team USA did not bring home the Phoenix Cup, he will remember that trip and those moments with his teammates forever. Bobby has committed to growing the game of amputee/adaptive golf in his local community and has recently been selected to become PGA HOPE Ambassador for the Gateway Section/St. Louis, Missouri. He also serves as President of the Arlington Greens Veterans Golf Association, his local veteran’s golf league. |
