The memorial

Florida golf pro receives heart from C-J grad

Paul Vernon/AP James Kamte, left, of South Africa shakes his hand with Erik Compton on the ninth green after completing the first round of the Memorial golf tournament, Thursday, June 4, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Former CJ athlete’s heart saved life of pro golfer

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By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer Updated 11:16 PM Saturday, June 6, 2009

In what was shaping up as one of the most unbelievable stories in sports, Erik Compton was working his way toward a spot near the bottom of the leaderboard at Murfield.

Fifteen holes into the third round of Memorial Tournament Saturday, June 6, the Florida golf pro with the heartfelt Dayton connection was 2 under par. He’d carded three birdies in his last six holes and with a couple more, he’d be in great shape.

Then he bogeyed 16 and 17 and double-bogeyed 18 when he missed a six-inch putt.

After signing his scorecard, he tromped stone-faced past the autograph seekers, waiting media members and even his caddy. He reached for his wife, Barbara, and they slipped onto a secluded stairway where they sat for a few minutes.

“I just needed to clear my mind,” he later said. “If I had a punching bag, I’d hit it. You go from having a great round to a really bad round in three holes. I wasn’t thinking. ... Now, even if I shoot 1 or 2 under tomorrow, I’m still going to finish right around dead last.”

A year ago, though, he wasn’t looking at dead last, he was facing the very real possibility of soon being dead.

Diagnosed as a kid with an enlarged heart, his original transplant had worn out. He’d suffered a heart attack and was being kept alive with medication and a defibrillator.

But when Isaac Klosterman — a Chaminade Julienne and University of Dayton athlete and an organ donor — was killed in a hit-and-run accident, an unbelievable story began to unfold.

After today’s final round at the Memorial, Lillian and Jeff Klosterman, Isaac’s parents, finally will meet the man in whose chest their son’s heart now beats.

And while Erik is especially appreciative of the gift, his competitive side — the side he’s regained thanks to Isaac — made him yearn for more Saturday.

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