3 minute read
Never Say Never
Hogan Lust
Nick Stilwell… video the putting action… and the young man made the putt! Jackson Merriss can’t have a bigger smile with a final putt to finish first in the Junior Division.
18 Golf Central • Volume 20, Issue 10 An amazing thing happened for me, over the simple note via Facebook Messenger from a friend telling me of an event at Mission Inn (Howey-in-the-Hills, FL) that I may want to cover. The North American One-Armed Golfer Association – Winter Region Championship. There wasn’t any hesitation on reaching out to the President, Dan Aldrich to explain that I will attend the final day and do a story. What I didn’t expect was what I found when I arrived at Mission Inn. The NAOAGA had invited Nick Stilwell and the Never Say Never Foundation to bring junior golfers with disabilities to play golf during their Championship Weekend. I recently had completed a story on Nick from Ocala, Florida and his adventures of winning the Champions Trophy of the “State Farm Para Long Drive” competition at the WinStar World Resort and Casino in Thackerville, Okla., held in conjunction with the 44th World Long Drive Championship. “I had such a great event that week and feel very blessed to have competed in the State Farm Para Long Drive competition.” Nick said. “I got first place in the amputee division!!!… can you believe it?,” he mentioned in a very excited voice. What I didn’t realize was his passion for “Paying it Forward.” After a near fatal car accident, Nick’s was first prosthetic appointment led him to meet Regas Woods who actually fabricated Nick’s first set of legs. Regas did more than just fit Nick for those legs… he lifted Nick’s spirits… showing him that there IS life after amputation and that anything is still possible with determination and the right mind set. Now facing new obstacles physically, mentally and financially, Nick asked Regas to join forces to help amputee children who face these same problems. From that conversation they formed the Never Say Never Foundation to instill a positive and active lifestyle in kids with limb loss, all the while pushing the limits of adaptive sports and redefining what was thought to be impossible! In the past nine years, Nick and Regas have built Never Say Never into a respected foundation that helps kids and athletes strive to reach their full potential and put on one of the most sought after, fully funded, adaptive sporting camps in the United States. What next for Never Say Never AMP CAMP 2020 This year’s camp will take place April 22nd-26th at Camp Kiwanis in Silver Springs, FL. The kids attending this camp from around the country can look forward to activities such fishing, hiking, swimming, archery and an introduction to some of the local wildlife. More information can be found at: www.NeverSayNever.com Jimmy Tillman looked like a pro shot out of the bunker.
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