“I Got This”: Amazing Amy Makes History Again

Amy Bockerstette captured the heart of the nation after the video of her playing a practice hole with Gary Woodland at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open went viral. Since then, the world has been able to celebrate with Amy as she continues to make history.

In high school, Amy became the first person with Down syndrome to compete in the Arizona High School Girls Golf Division I State Championship. When Amy joined the golf team at Paradise Valley Community College in 2018, she became the first person with Down syndrome to earn a collegiate athletic scholarship. And as of this morning, Amy is the first person with Down syndrome to compete in ANY national collegiate athletic championship.

Amy’s accomplishments speak for themselves. But the real story lies with her infectious spirit that reaches far beyond the golf course.

I first met Amy Bockerstette at the 2019 LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was fresh off her viral moment with Gary Woodland. If you haven’t seen this must-watch video, a summary: As Amy walked to the tee of TPC Scottsdale’s par-3 16th hole with Woodland and playing partner Matt Kuchar, she waved at the crowd who were already cheering in admiration. Before hitting a bunker shot, Amy said, “I got this, you can do this” to herself. And as she and Woodland stepped up to read the putt, Amy repeated her “I got this” mantra… and proceeded to sink the putt for par.

Amy and I quickly discovered that we not only shared a love of golf, but also music. We gave a mini concert after the LPGA’s #DriveOn launch, singing one of our favorite Disney tunes and ending with a loud “yay” and hug. Fast forward to the pandemic, where Amy and I gave encore performances during quite a few “Quarantine Karaoke” sessions hosted by LPGA Professionals member Debbie O’Connell. Our in-person reunion had to be delayed a little bit, but countless FaceTimes later, I consider myself one of the lucky ones to call Amy a friend.

Today, we are reunited in Ormond Beach, Florida, where I get to witness Amy make history once again at the NJCAA Women’s Golf National Championship at Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club.

“You’ll get a kick out of this,” Jenny texted me last week. “They are going to have a presser for Amy on Sunday after the practice round and before the tournament begins so that we can take care of a few media requests all at the same time.”

An alumna of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, Amy transcends sport with her “I got this” mantra and unwavering positivity. She attended the LPGA Leadership Academy in 2017, learning the positive self-talk seen in her heartfelt moment with Woodland. Amy’s mother Jenny credits Girls Golf with contributing to her confidence, leadership, and changing their lives. On her 21st birthday, Amy and her family founded the “I GOT THIS Foundation, which promotes golf instruction and play for people with Intellectual Disabilities.

If you didn’t know by now, “Amazing Amy” comes by that alliteration naturally. She is a star that shines a light on what this game is truly about.