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Compton shows he’s more than transplant recipient

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Erik Compton was chatting at the podium when Rickie Fowler leaned in to take a selfie with his buddy in the background.

Shows just how far Compton has come in the past week.

Now, he’s the one being treated like a star.

“I’ve never gotten this far along in my story,” Compton said Sunday night, choking back tears not long after soaking up the last of the raucous cheers that followed him all the way around Pinehurst No. 2. “It’s a career-opening thing for me. For me to put myself on the map and prove to the world that I’m not just the guy with two heart transplants.”

Before he hit a shot in the U.S. Open, Compton already had traveled a remarkable journey. He underwent his first transplant at age 12. He had another when he was 28, after driving himself to the hospital while suffering a near-fatal heart attack.

Six years removed from that traumatic experience, Compton turned in the greatest performance of what had been a largely nondescript career. He tied with Fowler for the runner-up spot behind runaway winner Martin Kaymer.

“My mom summed it pretty well the other night,” Compton recalled. “She said, ‘Erik’s a golfer with two transplants, not a transplant recipient who plays golf.'”

After getting through sectional qualifying just to make it to the Open — and a two-hole playoff, at that — Compton was one of only three players to finish under par at the Open. He closed with a 72 for a 1-under 279, leaving him eight shots behind Kaymer.

For Compton, the margin wasn’t really important.

Sure, he wanted to give Kaymer more of a challenge. In fact, Compton did get as close as four strokes around the turn.

But back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes effectively ended his chances of winning the tournament. No problem. Runner-up felt just as good to someone who’s been through so much.

“I go from where I was a few years ago, and now I’m able to play in major championships,” Compton said as the sun set on the sandhills of North Carolina. “I showed the world today that I’m capable of playing good golf under extreme pressure and heat.

“And,” he added, “I think I showed myself.”

At No. 18, with the winner decided but runner-up still up for grabs, Compton pushed his tee shot into the waste area right of the fairway. That was followed by awful iron shot, the ball winding up against the lip of a bunker, still about 50 yards from the flag. Then, he pulled off one of his best shots of the whole week, the ball settling about 8 feet from the cup.

Compton pumped his fist before walking up to the green, where he was greeted by cheers that were just as loud as they would be a few minutes later for Kaymer in the final group, closing out his wire-to-wire victory. The fans were on their feet again when Compton rolled in a par-saving putt that had all the feel of a guy winning the tournament, even though it merely ensured he would remain tied with Fowler.

Compton hugged his caddie and soaked up the standing ovation.

“It’s very exciting to play golf around people that are supporting you,” Compton said. “I’ve never had that feeling where so many people were cheering my name. It was just a really great week for me.”

Compton ensured himself a spot in the 2015 Masters and a return to next year’s U.S. Open without having to qualify. He should move into the top 75 of the world rankings for the first time, his career finally looking up after so much hardship.

There was one problem: the USGA had a single runner-up medal for the awards ceremony. Compton put it on first, then gave Fowler a turn.

“We’re going to fish-off for the medal,” Compton joked.

After getting into Fowler’s selfie, Compton talked about playing golf with his friend after the second transplant, how much that whole experience meant to him.

“When I drove up and saw him, he was like a celebrity in my eyes because of what he’s accomplished,” Compton said.

“Now,” he went on, breaking into a devilish grin, “he’s looking at me like that.”

“Hey,” Fowler interjected, as everyone howled. “I did finish TIED for second.”

Indeed he did, but this was Compton’s moment to shine.

His life never felt so full of promise.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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