Two represent heart and soul of the game

Never, it seems, are stories of inspiration far away when it comes to golf. It can be played as a fiercely independent challenge or for mere camaraderie, but golf rarely fails us. Nor do the people who play it, whether professionally like Erik Compton, or merely for the joy of it, like Taylor Anderson.

Certainly, Compton and Anderson are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to ability, but in terms of unyielding desire, they are role models who prove that golf attracts people with great spirit.

Compton, you might have heard of. A heralded junior player who kicked around the minor leagues and minitours for several years, he was diagnosed with a heart defect when he was 9. At 12, he underwent a heart transplant and for years he lived a normal life - until months ago, when he collapsed. The heart attack led to a second transplant, and given the severity of all that, it was safe to assume that at 28 Compton was done with golf.

Heck, he wasn't even done with it for this year.

Just five months removed from his second heart transplant, Compton teed it up in the first stage of the annual PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament and while rounds of 76-75-77 seemingly brought an end to his spirited saga, he thought otherwise. Only the top 23 and ties would advance and, yes, he was well outside the projected cut, but he shook his head - then showed his character.

"People always want to count me out," he told reporters after scoring the final day's best round, a 4-under-par 68, which brought him roaring into a tie for 23d. With wind gusting to 30 miles per hour at Crandon Golf Club in Key Biscayne, Fla., and scores skyrocketing, Compton recorded just one of three sub-70 rounds and earned a spot into the next stage, Nov. 12-15 at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Less heralded but just as inspiring was the golf victory by Anderson, whose family moved to Concord several years ago. OK, so it was an essay contest sponsored by one of the nation's top accounting, tax, and business firms, RSM McGladrey, and not a sterling round of 68, but nonetheless it afforded the 21-year-old Anderson to put forth a compelling story.

"Who's Behind Your Success" was the name of the contest and it was inspired by LPGA Tour star Natalie Gulbis, who has always given great credit to her father, John. Anderson, who was born paralyzed on the right side of his body, was among the thousands who entered the contest. He heaped praised upon his mother, Christina, for inspiring him to overcome adversity, for devoting endless hours to his medical attention, for helping with his quest to play golf.

"My sister [Colby] had things she could do with my parents. I had things I could do with my mom. We went to lunch and spent special time together after all those doctors' visits," said Anderson, a junior at George Washington University. "But I wanted something one-on-one with my father. I wanted to play golf with him."

The hero who made that happen was Christina.

"She never hesitated. She believed in me, even when doctors discouraged us," Anderson said. "She devoted herself to my cause."

Born in Atlanta, Taylor Anderson moved with his family to London when he was a young boy, but when they took summer vacations in France, Christina discovered a golf professional who accepted the challenge to teach the game to her teenage son. "I was 12 or 13 and while the game has always had its frustrating days, I take it one day at time, one shot at a time," he said.

Anderson was told that while he was paralyzed on the right side of his body, it was best to stand righthanded because it would be the left arm that would generate the most power. Anderson practiced the one-armed swing and improved to such a point that he got his wish - he began to savor the joys of golf days with his father. When Jack Anderson, who worked for one of the largest recovering audit firms in the world, moved his family back to the United States, Taylor Anderson enrolled in The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., where he soon discovered that there was no golf team.

No problem. Taylor Anderson got behind a move to start one, and consistent with his attitude since Day 1, it was no big deal that he only had full use of the one arm and just one side of his body.

"For me, it's just life. I have never known it to be anything different," said Anderson, who is an economics major with a double minor in French and business. Golf would perhaps rank as his third minor, and the McGladrey contest provided two chances to immerse himself in the game. The announcement that Anderson had won the contest was made in golf heaven, Pinehurst, N.C., and for Taylor and Jack it meant a chance to play the famed No. 2 course. Next, Taylor and his family will get a day with Gulbis in Las Vegas, complete with a morning workout, nine holes of golf, and dinner.

Anderson said he expects that day in Las Vegas to validate even further his desire to play golf.

"It gave me the ability to do something I could do on my own," he said. "It's something very relaxing. To go out in the morning and watch the sun still rising, to think of solutions to your problems - it's so tranquil. It's an absolutely wonderful game."

Break on through

Michael Welch of North Quincy and Jim Renner of Plainville advanced comfortably through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying last week, as did onetime University of Rhode Island standout Michael Sims, but the news wasn't so positive for a handful of other locals. Keegan Bradley of Hopkinton, Jason Parajeckas of Woburn, Rob Oppenheim of Andover, Jason Caron of South Yarmouth, Kevin Silva of New Bedford, Steve Alminas of East Longmeadow, Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, and Mike Capone of Cranston, R.I., were among the many who failed to make it through . . . Six more first-stage sites are ongoing throughout the country. The field in Durham, N.C., includes Geoff Sisk of Marshfield, Adam Rainaud of South Hadley, and Connecticut's Kyle Gallo, while Vermont native Trevor Murphy is competing in Hollister, Calif. Justin Peters of Pembroke is part of the scene in Palm City, Fla., and in Cypresswood, Texas, Michael Carbone of Brewster will tee it up, as will Rhode Islander Rodney Butcher.

On the outside

What figured to be a 21st consecutive appearance in the PGA Tour's Las Vegas tournament Oct. 16-19 turned out to be, well, a trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., instead. No wonder Billy Andrade calls this a "very strange fall," because unlike in years past, the final few tournaments of the PGA Tour schedule have featured plenty of distinguished names. That has made for fewer spots for those in desperate need of playing opportunities, such as Andrade. Having been a top-125 player for 18 consecutive seasons before falling to No. 150 a year ago, the Rhode Island native is currently 191st on the money list and in search of a miracle at this week's Ginn sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast, Fla. Barring a victory, or at the least a top-10 finish that would make him eligible for next week's season finale at Disney, Andrade knows his next competitive golf will come in December at his first visit to the final stage of Q School since 1988. Humbling stuff, but it's not as if the 44-year-old is going to stuff the suggestion box at corporate offices in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. "I understand the rules. I know how it works, because I've been at it long enough," he said. Having missed the cut 14 times in 23 starts, Andrade hasn't built any sort of rhythm in '08 and his nonexempt status based on last year's money list didn't extend him the chance to play in all the tournaments he would have liked. For instance, the Vegas stop, in which he had participated for 20 straight years. "It's just very, very difficult to get in [tournaments]," said Andrade, who won in Las Vegas in 2000, but couldn't get a spot this year, so he did the next best thing - he played in his first Nationwide Tour event, though he missed the cut in Chattanooga. Ineligible for next week's stop at Disney, Andrade this week is pretty much on his last chance for 2008, but he remains calm. "If I have to go to Q School, I'm going," he said. "I don't want to be given anything. I want to earn my way back - and I will."

Never out of it

You like comeback stories? Meet Helen Alfredsson. Five strokes back through 36 holes last weekend, the 43-year-old Swede stormed home with a 65 to win the LPGA Tour's first tournament in China. Earlier this summer, Alfredsson was four back entering the final round of the Evian Masters in France, only to fire 64 and eventually prevail in a playoff. On a greater scale, Alfredsson's season rates as one of remarkable rejuvenation, because while she's been one of the circuit's most colorful and easygoing personalities, never has she performed like this. The money ($1,398,256) and wins (two) in just 23 tournaments this year are more than what she combined for in 132 tournaments over the previous seven seasons ($1,263,785, one win). A stunning turnaround, but she doesn't owe it to anything other than her competitive spirit. "I love to play. I love to compete," she said . . . His sister, Laura Diaz, had caddied for him at the 2005 and 2006 PGA Championships, so Ron Philo, the New England PGA standout, returned the favor and traveled to China to strap the bag over his shoulder for her. They made for a dynamic team, too, as she opened with 10 birdies in a round of 63 before settling for third, four behind Alfredsson. But don't look for anything permanent. "I can't afford him. My husband comes cheaper," said Diaz with a laugh. Diaz's husband, Kevin, stayed home with their young son, but usually caddies for her.

Special assistants

Ryan Kesten and T.J. Anthoine of Weston GC won the NEPGA Assistants Association Match Play Championship, defeating Todd Cook of Tedesco Country Club and Dan Dwyer of Bass Rocks, 2 and 1, at Concord CC . . . At the Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Scott Hickey of Norton CC fired a 2-under 70 to squeeze out a one-stroke win over Chip Johnson of Hatherly CC in the NEPGA George S. Wemyss Pro-Am. Randall Thibault of Ridgewood CC in Moultonborough, N.H., anchored the winning team with a two-best-ball gross of 14-under 140 . . . Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury has been named an honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American . . . The Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds duo of Annette Gaiotti and Brad Haven successfully defended their title in the WGAM Stone Cup . . . Harvard and Boston College women enjoyed success at the Kelly Gutshall Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. The Crimson won the team title, while the Eagles' Eunice Yim shot 79-74 to take medalist honors. Emily Balmert and Mia Kabasakalis of Harvard were second . . . In Wilmington, N.C., Natalie Sheary of West Hartford finished joint fourth to help Wake Forest to the title in the Women's Landfall Tradition . . . Jon Curran of Hopkinton, a senior at Vanderbilt, shot 76-70-71 to finish tied for ninth in a collegiate tournament in Jonesborough, Tenn.

Jim McCabe can be reached at jmccabe@globe.com.