Why This Golfer With Down Syndrome Has Everyone Talking
Golfer Amy Bockerstette hit a par, the prescribed number of strokes a player needs to complete a hole without penalty, on hole 16 of the Phoenix Open during the PGA Tour. Now everyone is paying attention to the young athlete.
Her talent on the golf course is not surprising. Last year, Paradise Valley Community College offered her a full-ride scholarship to play on their women’s golf team. Bockerstette then became the first person with Down syndrome to receive a college athletics scholarship. During high school, she was the first Arizona student with Down syndrome to compete in the state high school playoffs.
✔️ First tournament of the season! ❤️ Loved it! ❤️ @PVCCPumas Women’s Golf totally rocks! pic.twitter.com/cPieYCrAW1
— Amy Bockerstette (@AmyGolfsNDances) January 29, 2019
The day before the Phoenix Open, professional gold player, Gary Woodland, partnered with the PGA Tour and Special Olympics to surprise Bockerstette with a chance to play hole 16 during the practice round. Since then, the PGA video of Bockerstette hitting par has gone viral.
"Amy … you're our hero."
How a superstar named Amy teamed up with @GaryWoodland to win the hearts of the 16th hole crowd @WMPhoenixOpen.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/iRhZbvdjuP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 30, 2019
Bockerstette played the round with the support of her dad, Joe Bockerstette, who encouraged her throughout the round. She charmed viewers, as we see a confident woman saying, “I got this,” and “I can do this.” And she does.
Even when she hits the ball in the bunker (sand dune), Bockerstette lets Woodland know she can do it when he offers to take the shot for her. She confidently hits the ball, landing it a perfect distance for a par putt.
In an interview with azcentral, Woodland said Bockerstette’s par on 16 was, “by far the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced.” He added, “I’ve never rooted so hard for somebody on a golf course.” And it is easy to see and hear his enjoyment the moment he realizes Bockerstette is, indeed, a strong player.
The best moment Tuesday – perhaps even the entire @WMPhoenixOpen – was when Amy Bockerstette, a young lady with Down Syndrome who has a full scholarship to play golf for Paradise Valley CC, was invited to play No. 16 with @GaryWoodland and Matt Kuchar, and then parred the hole. pic.twitter.com/kFTI9n2APn
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) January 30, 2019
Bockerstette finished the hole waving at the crowd, blowing kisses. Her mother came running to congratulate her. Bockerstette is right when she said, “Everyone loves me.” Yes Bockerstette, we are your fans!
Thank you for playing golf with me @GaryWoodland. It was so much fun! And thank you for an awesome day @PGATOUR @WMPhoenixOpen and @SOArizona I LOVED IT! https://t.co/KwMK6dXMEl
— Amy Bockerstette (@AmyGolfsNDances) January 30, 2019
Banner image screenshot from PGA video.
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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