A high school golfer in Grayling, Michigan has overcome terrible tragedy and brain injury to qualify for the state finals where he played last weekend in memory of two fallen friends.

Within a single year Jake Hinkle, after being in a coma from an April 2013 car crash, has persevered in the game he loves so much to become the sole player in the finals to represent the school that lost both its golf coach and a player on that fateful road trip. The accident also left four other members of the Grayling golf team severely injured.

“Our goal for him last May was that he would wake up in the morning and know what city he was in, or that maybe he could hop 25 feet with a walker,” said Jody Hinkle of her son’s state-tournament trip. “That was one year ago.”

Not only did all five boys recover from shattered bones and broken hearts to get back in the game, their team play in the district tournament stunned just about everybody. Jake’s play qualified him to complete in the finals and carry the Grayling banner.

(WATCH the video above or READ the story on Michigan Live)

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