Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 15, 1990 TAG: 9007150048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Martin was supposed to ride a cart and just watch; but, before he was done, he had walked 18 holes at Round Meadow in Christiansburg and played a total of 27.
"I had told my dad that I would try to play 18," said Martin, who lives in Radford. "When I got done, I called him and said, `I didn't play 18.' He said, `That's probably good.' Then, I told him I had played 27. He said, `Lovely. Just lovely.' "
Less than six weeks earlier, on Jan. 29, Martin underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor. He did not return to school until March 12.
Actually, Martin went to Round Meadow on March 6 with his father and had hit balls, "but I got a blister on my thumb and had to quit after 20 minutes," he said.
Martin's neck was sore because muscles had been cut so that surgeons could reach the tumor, but when he went to the doctor later that week, he received permission to resume playing golf.
"He said to do as much as I wanted, so long as I didn't push it," Martin said, "but I'm sure that [27 holes] was more than he would have recommended."
The weather kept Martin from playing regularly again until the end of April, but he broke 80 almost immediately and, in early June, broke 70, although he has lacked consistency and tires easily.
Nevertheless, Martin has kept up the same tournament schedule he followed last year and will begin play Monday in the Scott Robertson Memorial Tournament at Roanoke Country Club.
It will be the fourth Robertson appearance for Martin, who last year finished fifth in the 14-15 age group. He enters this year's tournament with modest expectations, partly because he is moving to the 15-18 division.
Also, the surgery has slowed his progress.
"It's been really frustrating," Martin said. "I'd expected to be playing better because of where I'd been [as a golfer]; but, realistically, I guess that was impossible.
"The doctors have said that, when you get tired, the brain doesn't function as well. They say it's like a head injury. Sometimes it takes a year or two to fully recovery."
Martin has occasional problems with his balance, although he seems normal to the untrained eye.
"I can be walking along and, all of a sudden, just stumble," he said. "If I get up and down quickly, I feel dizzy. But don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining."
Martin started having dizzy spells in August 1989 on the morning he was to leave for the Virginia State Junior tournament. He almost withdrew, but decided to make the trip and was one of the contenders in his age bracket.
Martin never had a problem with headaches throughout his ordeal, but he continued to have a problem with dizziness and blacked out during basketball practice the day after the season started.
By then, he had seen several doctors and it was believed he had an inner-ear problem. However, one of his doctors recommended a CAT scan, which revealed something abnormal.
Subsequent tests showed that Martin had a tumor and, for a time, there was fear it was malignant. That was before Martin was examined by Dr. William Bell, a surgeon at Bowman-Gray Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"He said, `From the looks of it, from the symptoms you have described, from the fact it's been there five or six months, it seems like a benign process,' " Martin said.
"I guess I got the news three or four days after the operation, but it was probably a week or so before I realized what was going on. I wasn't too easy to get along with for a while."
Needless to say, the illness was devastating for the Martin family. Matt's father, Buddy, took a leave of absence from coaching the Radford High boys' basketball team.
"You've got to understand, the first positive sign we got was in talking to the surgeon," Buddy Martin said. "That was our first ray of hope. All things considered, we were very fortunate. The alternative was unthinkable."
That is not to say Matt was able to leave the hospital in a matter of days, or with full control of his body.
"It is the kind of operation that causes you to lose all motor skills," Buddy Martin said. "It was totally debilitating. He could not walk, talk or feed himself."
After extensive surgery, Matt Martin was able to return to school. Despite missing six weeks of classes, he had a 3.8 grade-point average for the spring semester of his junior year.
Martin dropped a mathematics class, however, and plans to remain at Radford for another two years. He had a 4.0 grade-point average in the fall semester, despite the tumor, and never had received a grade of B until the spring.
Although he has taken part in summer golf competition, Martin, who turned 16 on July 5, has requested a hearing before the Virginia High School League hardship committee in hopes of sitting out the 1990-91 athletic year and playing a final season in 1991-92.
"Regardless of what he tells you, he still suffers," Buddy Martin said. "It's not painful, but it's going to be awhile before he can do things the way he used to.
"When he reaches exhaustion, it's like his brain short-circuits. I question some of the things he's doing now with golf. But it wouldn't do any good to tell him he needs to rest. Golf's a biggie for him."
From all indications, the operation was a success and Matt Martin will regain his coordination and balance, but he will continue to have CAT scans and other tests to monitor his recovery.
"I haven't played [golf] that well all summer," he said. "It will be one thing one day, then something else the next. I've been so inconsistent. The golf course is the only place I find myself asking, `Why me?' "
Depending on the context, Martin can ask that question and feel very good about the answer.
"Myself . . . I'm just thankful he'll be teeing it up Monday," Buddy Martin said. "It's a flip of the coin, and our coin came up heads. Not everyone's does."
The Robertson is now affiliated with the American Junior Golf Association and has gone from 36 to 54 holes. Also, the tournament is open to 18-year-olds who have not entered college. . . . Christopher Sykes of Knoxville, Tenn., is the low finisher returning from the 1989 tournament. Chris Green of Harrisonburg defeated Sykes on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Both shot 145 for 36 holes. . . . Robert Floyd, 14-year-old son of PGA Tour player Raymond Floyd, is entered in the 12-14 division. . . . Golf comedian Joey "O" will perform Monday night at the driving range at Roanoke Country Club.
by CNB