Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i freshman Stephen Winchester played in his first Big Island Interscholastic Federation golf match on March 12, but must wait a year to play in his next one.

The wait, however, should be no problem since Winchester and his family know just how fortunate he is to have a whole life of golf ahead of him.

After all, that life was nearly taken away just four months ago.

On Dec. 10, 2007, Winchester was participating in Kamehameha's traditional "Freshman Run" at the Kea'au campus when he suddenly collapsed on the course.

"I was running with a couple friends, but after a while I ran past them," said Winchester, 14. "When I fell down, they caught up to me."

They quickly called for help, and a Kamehameha athletic trainer and school nurse arrived moments later. Winchester was unconscious and had only a faint pulse. The trainer and nurse performed CPR and used a portable Automated External Defibrillator — in which an electric shock pumps the heart back into rhythm — to revive him.

"We're very blessed," said Winchester's mother, Cathy. "If it had to happen, I'm glad it happened where it did, where he could get help so quickly. They saved his life, so I praise them so highly."

Cathy and husband David were called and told to meet the ambulance at Hilo Medical Center, where Stephen arrived at the emergency room still unconscious.

"We really didn't know what was wrong," Cathy said. "Once we realized he was breathing ... everybody was afraid about brain damage."

Winchester was flown that afternoon to Honolulu, where he was admitted to an intensive care unit. One of the scans showed a heart defect called an "anomalous right coronary artery."

"His right artery was growing in the wrong direction," Cathy said. "When he exercised, it compressed against the (blood vessel) and restricted the flow of blood. It's scary because it happened so many other times, but there's no side effects and it was something we didn't know was happening.

"We were surprised, because he never showed any symptoms. When we heard he collapsed, we thought he was just dehydrated."

Winchester was heavily sedated and remained unconscious for one week.

His condition was rare, so a specialist from San Diego was flown in to perform corrective surgery along with a surgeon from Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children. Winchester underwent open-heart surgery on Jan. 7.

"His recovery was amazing," Cathy said. "On the third day, he was back in his private room, and he was home within a week."

After 34 days in the hospital, Winchester returned to Hilo, and his first thoughts turned to golf.

"I wanted to get back on the course," said Winchester, who had played basketball and studied kendo as a youth but concentrated on golf the past two years.

He soon was at the course, beginning with some chipping and putting, and then hitting balls on the driving range. Winchester's doctor later cleared him to play, as long as he did not lift anything heavier than 20 pounds.

"I have to use a push cart until June," Winchester said. "But it's all right; I'm fine (physically)."

Mentally, he has no recollection of collapsing or the moments afterward, so there is little thought of any danger to his health. Winchester has undergone treadmill tests to monitor his progress, but Cathy said he soon should be cleared for all physical activity.

"We were surprised he was able to play golf again so soon," Cathy said. "I'm amazed at his recovery."

After shooting a 93 in the BIIF opener March 12 at Hilo Muni, Winchester has since concentrated on catching up with his schoolwork — he missed five weeks — and will not compete in any other official matches this BIIF season.

But he is practicing with the team and looks forward to 2009.

"Next year," he said, "I'll play in every tournament."

Read Wes' blog on prep sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com