LCA-NE Advocate John Atkinson Wins Golf Digest U.S. Open Contest! 

LCA is proud and excited to announce that John Atkinson, LCA-Nebraska Chair, has won the Golf Digest US Open Contest!

John entered the contest in January, writing a 100 word essay describing why he could break 100 at Torrey Pines before the US Open.  His good friend, Terry Beutler also submitted an essay about John.  There were over 56,000 entrants and John won!

America voted and John received over 48,000 votes from people all over the country!  He will get to play on national television with NBC Today Show host, Matt Lauer, Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback, Tony Romo and recording artist and former member of N’Sync, Justin Timberlake on Friday, June 6th.  The golf course, Torrey Pines, will be set up just as the pros will play it during the US Open. 

John started swinging the clubs when he was only 15 years old.  It took him about six years to really get serious about the game.  John has been playing golf for over twenty years, but this past year has been the most impactful.

John was diagnosed on March 29, 2007 with Stage 4 inoperable adenocarcinoma--non-small cell lung cancer.  An otherwise healthy 39 year old never smoker, John was shocked by the diagnosis, but remained determined to beat the disease. 

He has been married for 13 years and is a father of three children.  What will he do?  How will he cope with the physical and emotional stress of fighting lung cancer?  He turned to golf.

John was able to apply lessons he learned on the course, to real time situations in ways he had never expected.  Golfing taught him patience and confidence.  He learned how to focus on the goals ahead and make it through 18 holes, not stopping until he had finished. 

Golfing gave John a chance to reconnect with family and friends and share laughter and putting tips.  His love for the game has never been stronger.

These life lessons combined with John's strong faith and a strong will to beat this disease have propelled him through the year.   He has been undergoing treatment in a clinical study at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.  His cancer has remained stable this past year. 

John will show America that anything possible, even when faced with a life altering disease. 

In the words of golfer Arnold Palmer, "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win."