Arizona Golfer With Down Syndrome Plays In High School Championship

Richard Obert catches up with Sandra Day O'Connor High School golf coach Steve Casey about Amy Bockerstette, one of his starting five before last week's Division I girls at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen, Arizona.

Bockerstette is a 4-foot-9-inch junior with Down syndrome who has inspired her teammates by moving into the lineup.

This is her second year competing in high school matches.

Bockerstette was granted allowance from the Arizona Interscholastic Association to have a caddie during match play.

She has qualified with the team to compete in the state tournament, which runs Wednesday and Thursday for Division I girls at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen. Bockerstette is the team’s fifth golfer, shooting a best nine holes of about 50 this year.

Her swing coach, local pro Matt Acuff, who works with some of the top local juniors, will be on her bag and in her head as he steers her through the biggest tournament of her life, a journey that nobody but Bockerstette, her coach/caddie and those closest around her ever thought possible.

“It’s awesome,” she said.

The story goes on to detail how she got into golf and it's pretty inspirational stuff. Enjoy!