58 competitors take on one of Alabama’s toughest layouts as Hopkins, Gladfelter, Salter, Thomas and other flight champions emerge at Veterans Golfers Association event
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (08 July 2026) — Before sunrise broke over Alabama, the competition was already stirring at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill.
At 5:30 a.m., darkness still covered the Senator Course, but Veterans Golfers Association competitors were arriving with clubs in hand and a challenging day ahead. By 7 a.m., 58 players were in position for opening ceremonies before taking on one of the RTJ Golf Trail’s most demanding layouts.
The combination of the Senator’s unforgiving design and Alabama summer weather turned the tournament into a test of golf, endurance and determination.
Temperatures climbed to approximately 95 degrees, with the heat index reaching roughly 103. Water, shade and any opportunity to cool down became nearly as important as finding fairways and greens.
Yet when the final scorecards came in, the competition produced standout performances across the VGA’s veteran, wounded veteran, senior, female and family divisions.

