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The following is an article that appeared in the Shelbyville Sentinel-News on June 2, 2006. It is reprinted here with permission from the Sentinel-News.

"Celebration of Spirit"

4th annual Amputee Tournament Players Championship in Shelby

By Walt Reichert / Sentinel-News Associate Editor

When Mark Calvert backed a feed truck into high voltage lines 17 years ago he, lost both of his legs but none of his spirit.

He was hurt in July of that year, was walking by September, and deer hunting in November. He had never played golf before he was hurt. His wife got him a set of golf clubs for Christmas that year and by February he was hitting the links. "I wanted to get out of the house," Calvert said. "Golf was like therapy."

He played in his first golf tournament at Best Creek in Tennessee in 1990 with his bandages still on. He came in second in the multiple amputee division.

Since then, Calvert, of Shelbyville, has competed in amputee tournaments all over the country. He is the reigning champion in the multiple amputee category of the National Amputee Golf Association. He is also vice president of the Southern Amputee Golf Association. Last year he won the Dennis Walters International Courage Award, which is given annually to a person who has demonstrated courage in overcoming odds to participate and contribute to the game of golf.

Nominating Calvert for the award, golf pro Mike Riley said, "Mark Calvert has done nothing short of a miracle with his life, but what he probably doesn't understand is what he has done for other peoples' lives."

Calvert and fellow amputee golfer Henry Brown are among the organizers of this year's Amputee Golf Tournament at Shelbyville Country Club this weekend. The tournament is expected to draw 67 amputees from 16 states, including California, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and Indiana.

Amputees compete in several divisions, above elbow, below elbow, above and below knee, multiple and women. New this year will be a gold division for amputees more than 70 years of age and a super gold for amputees over 75.

The tournament starts with a golf scramble at 8 a.m. Friday. The scramble pairs sponsors and amputee golfers; Brown expects 174 golfers to play in the scramble.

The first round of the tournament starts Saturday at noon. Sunday's second round starts at 7 a.m. After trophies, prizes and on-course awards are distributed, proceeds will go to the National Amputee Scholarship Fund.

For more information about the tournament, call Brown at 321-0501 or 829-0121.

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