Golf: Heritage's Nicole Feaster Finds Golf After Stingray Attack Ended Tennis Career

(Aug. 24, 2010) - One misstep ended Heritage High School sophomore Nicole Feaster's tennis career and that unfortunate incident wasn't even on the court ... it was in the Pacific Ocean as Feaster was stung by a stingray that she stepped on while surfing in San Diego two years ago.

That painful incident led to a bone infection and thus far 20 operations or procedures and counting. No longer able to play tennis, Feaster has turned to golf and she is catching on quickly to her new sport as she shot a career-best 72 on Tuesday to capture the Cheers Sports Open at Algonkian.

Feaster had never played Algonkian before Tuesday but that didn't prevent her from chipping in for birdie on her first hole and the rest of the way she kept it on the fairway and on the greens to card the even par 72. Before this week, 79 was her best score of the season.

"Shocked!," is how Feaster described her round. "I just hit every fairway and green."

Feaster had been a tennis player since she was three years old but the stingray accident led to multiple infections, which are not completely taken care of.

"I had an infection a couple of weeks ago," said Feaster. "I am ready for it to stop."

Feaster plays out of Rivercreek Country Club and golf is quickly replacing tennis as her sport of choice.

"I love it!," said Feaster.

Loudoun County, led by Brantley Kushner's 73, captured the team title.

2010 Cheers Open
Individual Scores
72 - Feaster (H)

73 - Kushner (LC)

74 - Douglass (H)
74 - Fortier (PF)
74 - Ochs (BW)

75 - Brenneman (LC)

76 - Corcoran (T)

77 - Ashley (SB)
77 - Kim (F)
77 - Linville (LC)
77 - Ryan (PV)
77 - Stillwell (D)
77 - Tomassone (LC)

78 - Cook (LC)
78 - Dulik (D)

79 - Ferrell (F)
79 - Wilton (PV)

80 - Allen (D)
80 - McQuitty (F)
80 - Trump (PF)
80 - Vazanna (BW)

81 - Early (LC)
81 - Gard (T)

82 - Boudreau (D)
82 - Kelly (SB)

83 - Bayer (H)
83 - Harding (BW)

84 - Leckemby (PV)
84 - Struhar (PV)

85 - O'Hara (D)
85 - Pittman (BR)
85 - Schreder (T)
85 - Scrivo (F)

86 - Byrd (PF)
86 - Flores (BW)
86 - Meadows (BR)
86 - Price (W)

87 - Corlett (BW)
87 - Israel (SB)
87 - Waller (SB)

89 - Capretti (BR)
89 - Lasik (PF)

90 - Koblynski (H)
90 - Moore (BW)
90 - O'Sullivan (H)

91 - Arth (SB)

92 - Kardos (W)
92 - Labgold (H)

93 - Karasinski (SB)
93 - Miller (BR)
93 - Newman (D)
93 - Tubridy (PV)

94 - Wohlgemuth (BR)

95 - Hughes (W)

97 - Bargiel (BR)

98 - Lamont (F)
98 - Tate (F)

99 - Nelis (W)

100 - Kovach (W)

102 - Collins (PF)
102 - Harrison (T)
102 - Taylor (PF)

106 - Aiken (W)
106 - Keyser (T)

109 - Barsotti (PV)

DQ - Friend (T)