Posted 12:31 am Thursday, September 08, 2011
Blind Golfer To Speak At Charity Tournament
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Jeremy Poincenot was like any other 19-year-old college student and fraternity brother — enjoying life to the fullest.
Then one morning around Thanksgiving 2008, the San Diego State University international business major awoke with blurred vision. He thought it was no big deal. However, a trip to his optometrist to pick up glasses resulted in Poincenot being diagnosed with a possible brain tumor. While an MRI was ruled out the brain, his vision continued to worsen.
Over the next month, he lost central vision in one eye and his once 20/20 vision dropped to 20/1000.
He was eventually diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic disorder that affects only one out of every 50,000 people. He could no longer drive a car, read or recognize faces.
Sports Editor
Jeremy Poincenot was like any other 19-year-old college student and fraternity brother — enjoying life to the fullest.
Then one morning around Thanksgiving 2008, the San Diego State University international business major awoke with blurred vision. He thought it was no big deal. However, a trip to his optometrist to pick up glasses resulted in Poincenot being diagnosed with a possible brain tumor. While an MRI was ruled out the brain, his vision continued to worsen.
Over the next month, he lost central vision in one eye and his once 20/20 vision dropped to 20/1000.
He was eventually diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic disorder that affects only one out of every 50,000 people. He could no longer drive a car, read or recognize faces.
“I was devastated,” said Poincenot, who spoke with the Tyler Morning Telegraph from San Diego earlier this week. “I never thought you could go legally blind at such a young age. I said to myself ‘Why me?’ I thought I was a genuine, nice person. Why did I have to lose my central vision?
“But it was through the help of family, friends and my fraternity that I was able to persevere. I realized that things could always be worse, and it was then that I made the choice not to sulk about my situation anymore and instead to be positive.”
At first he battled depression, but then he found a positive attitude, thinking that staying busy was the best way of coping with his vision loss.
He and his friends began C.U.R.E. (Cycling Under Reduced Eyesight), an annual fundraising bike ride from Santa Barbara, Calif., to San Diego. He also started “Dienasty Select” with some friends, a clothing company that gives a portion of the proceeds to LHON research. And with another friend as his guide, Jeremy ran in his first half marathon where he received the Spirit of Joshua Award.
“But it was through the help of family, friends and my fraternity that I was able to persevere. I realized that things could always be worse, and it was then that I made the choice not to sulk about my situation anymore and instead to be positive.”
At first he battled depression, but then he found a positive attitude, thinking that staying busy was the best way of coping with his vision loss.
He and his friends began C.U.R.E. (Cycling Under Reduced Eyesight), an annual fundraising bike ride from Santa Barbara, Calif., to San Diego. He also started “Dienasty Select” with some friends, a clothing company that gives a portion of the proceeds to LHON research. And with another friend as his guide, Jeremy ran in his first half marathon where he received the Spirit of Joshua Award.
But there was something still missing. He had been an avid golfer since he was a child. Although apprehensive at first, he picked up the clubs again.
“When I was fully sighted, I didn’t like slow play on the golf course, so I thought that playing golf would definitely be slow play,” the 21-year-old Poincenot said. “After a while, I decided to give it a chance and found that I could keep pace and actually compete with the fully sighted.
“I played 18 holes with my dad (Lionel), who lined me up, and I had so much fun that I’ve continually worked on it to get better and I’m still hooked on the game of golf.”
After his mother (Lissa) researched and found the Blind Golf Association, Poincenot began competing in tournaments.
“When I was fully sighted, I didn’t like slow play on the golf course, so I thought that playing golf would definitely be slow play,” the 21-year-old Poincenot said. “After a while, I decided to give it a chance and found that I could keep pace and actually compete with the fully sighted.
“I played 18 holes with my dad (Lionel), who lined me up, and I had so much fun that I’ve continually worked on it to get better and I’m still hooked on the game of golf.”
After his mother (Lissa) researched and found the Blind Golf Association, Poincenot began competing in tournaments.
In 2009, he placed third in the U.S. Blind Golf Championships and in August 2010 he traveled to England where he won the International Blind Golf Association World Blind Golf Championship. He chipped in to win the tournament in a playoff at Whittlebury Park, Northamptonshire.
He had rounds of 91 and 89 and defeated England’s Simon Cookson in the playoff.
“I had been chipping well all day and felt confident over the chip,” he said. “I hit what I thought was a really good chip, not thinking it would go in. I heard something, that had to be the pin, and my dad said it went in. From there, it was just a dream.”
He said it was “amazing sharing the world championship with his dad.”
Next year, he will play in the world championship again in Nova Scotia, but first, later this month, Poincenot is visiting Tyler.
He had rounds of 91 and 89 and defeated England’s Simon Cookson in the playoff.
“I had been chipping well all day and felt confident over the chip,” he said. “I hit what I thought was a really good chip, not thinking it would go in. I heard something, that had to be the pin, and my dad said it went in. From there, it was just a dream.”
He said it was “amazing sharing the world championship with his dad.”
Next year, he will play in the world championship again in Nova Scotia, but first, later this month, Poincenot is visiting Tyler.
Thanks to Southside Bank, Poincenot will tell his story to East Texans as he will participate in the Saving Sight Golf Tournament on Sept. 26 at The Cascades Golf Club.
“The Lighthouse mission is empowering the blind and visually impaired and Jeremy’s story is such a powerful one: suffering tremendous loss then getting back up to do what you love and discovering the only limits we have are those we place on ourselves,” said Melissa Lanier, director of community relations for The East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. “His story is one of empowerment and encouragement for all people, not just the blind. We’re thrilled to have him as our guest for the Saving Sight Golf Tournament.”
Poincenot, who is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and his girlfriend are excited about coming to Tyler.
He will conduct a clinic and play a round of golf. He says if anyone who is visually impaired wants to play golf, they should.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and playing golf with East Texas golfers,” he said. “My girlfriend Ellen will be my caddy/guide; she’s a wedding planner and is looking forward to seeing Tyler roses.”
Poincenot, who just two weeks ago won the U.S. championship in Columbus, Ga., said of golf, “It’s giving me a lot of hope and a sense of gratification. What’s really fun — people think of golf as individual sport and that’s not the case at all with blind golf. I would not be able to hit the shots I hit and make the putts I make without my dad.”
He said his dad, or when he is in Tyler his girlfriend, will describe the hole and then line him up for the shot.
“For me, golf is a safe haven; I don’t think about my disability, I focus more on having a good time,” said Poincenot, who tries to play golf three times a week. “It gives me something to look forward to and something to strive to be better at every day.”
The game has allowed him to spend more time with his father.
“My family helped me get through the diagnosis of LHON,” he said. “My mom’s my biggest supporter and has become recognized as a leading LHON advocate. My dad and I always played golf together when I was young; we played every Sunday from when I was 11 until I was 17.
“When I lost my sight, I thought we wouldn’t be able to share that bond anymore, but the bond actually got stronger because blind golf is more of a team sport and my dad is often my coach/caddy/guide.”
After college, Poincenot wants to be motivational speaker. He is scheduled to graduate in 2013.
“I hope to raise awareness of LHON and hopefully help find a cure for this genetic disease that caused me to go blind and that threatens my mom, sister and brother with the same outcome,” he said. “I would like to tell my story. Life is filled with obstacles and life is tough at times. It is all about attitude. It’s how you handle situations. You can only determine what you can make out of your life.”
As for now, he continues to work to raise awareness of LHON and raise money for the visually impaired.
“Since I lost my sight to a disease that has no treatment and no cure, it’s given me a purpose in life: to raise as much money and awareness as possible to find a cure for LHON,” he said. “It’s caused me to realize that I shouldn’t take things for granted. When I was fully sighted, I was lazier, but now I’m much more pro-active and go out and do what I want to do. I’ve done much more in the past few years since I became legally blind than I did during the first 19 years of my life.”
For more information on the Saving Sight Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 26 at The Cascades Golf Club, visit www.tylerlighthouse.com.
“The Lighthouse mission is empowering the blind and visually impaired and Jeremy’s story is such a powerful one: suffering tremendous loss then getting back up to do what you love and discovering the only limits we have are those we place on ourselves,” said Melissa Lanier, director of community relations for The East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. “His story is one of empowerment and encouragement for all people, not just the blind. We’re thrilled to have him as our guest for the Saving Sight Golf Tournament.”
Poincenot, who is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and his girlfriend are excited about coming to Tyler.
He will conduct a clinic and play a round of golf. He says if anyone who is visually impaired wants to play golf, they should.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and playing golf with East Texas golfers,” he said. “My girlfriend Ellen will be my caddy/guide; she’s a wedding planner and is looking forward to seeing Tyler roses.”
Poincenot, who just two weeks ago won the U.S. championship in Columbus, Ga., said of golf, “It’s giving me a lot of hope and a sense of gratification. What’s really fun — people think of golf as individual sport and that’s not the case at all with blind golf. I would not be able to hit the shots I hit and make the putts I make without my dad.”
He said his dad, or when he is in Tyler his girlfriend, will describe the hole and then line him up for the shot.
“For me, golf is a safe haven; I don’t think about my disability, I focus more on having a good time,” said Poincenot, who tries to play golf three times a week. “It gives me something to look forward to and something to strive to be better at every day.”
The game has allowed him to spend more time with his father.
“My family helped me get through the diagnosis of LHON,” he said. “My mom’s my biggest supporter and has become recognized as a leading LHON advocate. My dad and I always played golf together when I was young; we played every Sunday from when I was 11 until I was 17.
“When I lost my sight, I thought we wouldn’t be able to share that bond anymore, but the bond actually got stronger because blind golf is more of a team sport and my dad is often my coach/caddy/guide.”
After college, Poincenot wants to be motivational speaker. He is scheduled to graduate in 2013.
“I hope to raise awareness of LHON and hopefully help find a cure for this genetic disease that caused me to go blind and that threatens my mom, sister and brother with the same outcome,” he said. “I would like to tell my story. Life is filled with obstacles and life is tough at times. It is all about attitude. It’s how you handle situations. You can only determine what you can make out of your life.”
As for now, he continues to work to raise awareness of LHON and raise money for the visually impaired.
“Since I lost my sight to a disease that has no treatment and no cure, it’s given me a purpose in life: to raise as much money and awareness as possible to find a cure for LHON,” he said. “It’s caused me to realize that I shouldn’t take things for granted. When I was fully sighted, I was lazier, but now I’m much more pro-active and go out and do what I want to do. I’ve done much more in the past few years since I became legally blind than I did during the first 19 years of my life.”
For more information on the Saving Sight Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 26 at The Cascades Golf Club, visit www.tylerlighthouse.com.
