John Atkinson

John Atkinson is an amateur golfer who won Golf Digest's 2008 U.S. Open Challenge.

One year after the contest, on June 12, 2009, Atkinson lost his battle with lung cancer and passed away at his Omaha, Nebraska, home.http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/47886667.html

As winner, he played a nationally broadcast round at Torrey Pines on June 15, 2008, opposite Matt Lauer, Tony Romo and Justin Timberlake. The contest fielded 56,374 reader-submitted essays. Atkinson was chosen after his friend and caddie Terry Beutler wrote and submitted an essay on his behalf. Without knowing of Beutler's essay, Atkinson entered one as well.

The following is from the essay that Beutler wrote without Atkinson's knowledge.

• "Can I break 100? No. Do I want the chance? Yes, but not for me. You see, my best friend since sixth grade was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer last April. He has never smoked, and it's just one of those life things. He is a wonderful father, husband, friend and son. Last summer he had a double treatment of chemo and walked 18 holes the next day and shot a 76. He's a 5-handicap. The statistics aren't on his side, but, like John says, they have never done a study of 100 John Atkinsons."

Here is an excerpt from Atkinson's own essay:

• "Golf gives me great pride, inspiration and strength as I continue teeing it up with friends. Nothing's better than taking your buddies while on chemotherapy!"