Cameron Corbett of Fort Worth Paschal High (Fort Worth, Texas) won't be competing in the Class 5A state golf tournament in Austin this year, but the fact he even made it to the regional tournament was somewhat amazing.

	Corbett has played golf using crutches.

Corbett, a senior, has endured a myriad of injuries throughout his four-year varsity golf career. He suffered two broken ankles, a broken leg, a broken arm and another ankle fracture. Corbett's latest injury, his second broken ankle, forced him to play golf using crutches.

He had little choice. UIL rules prohibit the use of a cart during tournament play, unless a player is permanently handicapped. So Corbett needed the use of crutches at the District 6-5A Meet and again at the Region I Meet in Lubbock.

"Physically, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, crutching 36 holes is the most tiring physical activity I've ever done," says Corbett. "You never notice all those hills, but they add up on crutches."

Corbett is hobbled because of a broken right ankle he suffered Dec. 13, during what he describes as "youthful horseplay.' Corbett needed an operation two days later. Doctors had to place two metal plates and 15 screws in his ankle. In late January, a second operation was performed, taking skin and muscles from other areas of Corbett's body and putting them around the ankle.

Recovering from the two surgeries has not been easy. Corbett walks with a pronounced limp. After the first surgery, the ankle became so swollen, the incision reopened and the ankle became infected.

The worst was feared, according to Corbett.

	Corbett, a senior, has endured a myriad of injuries throughout his four-year varsity golf career.

"The doctors thought there was a good chance that I would lose my foot. I still can," says the teen. "I have to take antibiotics every day. Not being able to play golf, not being able to be a normal, physical teen-age man, it kind of hits you pretty hard when they tell you that you might be crippled the rest of your life. I still have permanent damage, but I can walk."

Corbett can also play golf, and rather well. At the regional tournament, he shot a 78 and a 74 over the two-day event. That was a significant improvement from the district meet three weeks earlier.

In his first tournament since the injury, Corbett shot an 80, despite pain and fatigue. He then struggled over the final 18 holes on the second day, shooting an 84.

"The idea that Cameron played is not surprising," says Paschal golf coach Herb Stephens. "The idea of him shooting an 80 (the first day back) is surprising."

The injury has forced Corbett to change his game. He can't hit the ball as far as he used to and he has trouble standing up on windy days. But the hardest part, according to Corbett, was simply overcoming the mental strain of his injuries.

"I spent most of my time lying in my room and battling a feeling of depression," says Corbett. "This is not how I wanted to graduate. Your second semester of your senior year in high school is supposed to be one of the best times of your life. I spent most of it at home."

Nonetheless, this newest hardship doesn't compare to the one he went through Oct. 10, 1997. On that day, Corbett and good friend Bart Granger were involved in an automobile accident.

Corbett suffered a broken ankle, pelvis and arm. He was lucky; Granger died.

The Bart Granger Memorial Tournament, hosted by Paschal and played every September, is named in honor of the former Paschal golfer.

"It took longer for me to overcome the wreck emotionally than physically," says Corbett. "The day before the wreck, Bart shot a 67, which was his low round. I played golf with him since I was 10 or 11. He was basically the only person I played with.

"After the accident, it was tough to get out, tough to play at Colonial (Country Club), where we had a lot of memories playing. Then after this latest accident, I was thinking I won't even be able to be a normal kid anymore."

But Corbett has returned to the game he loves, and there is always a smile on his face when conversations turn to golf.

"I think playing has showed the team that I care about how we do and play as a team," says Corbett. "Before I broke my ankle, I think I took everything for granted. I don't think I was as good a leader as I should have been."

Playing 36 holes on crutches shows what kind of leader Cameron Corbett now is.