After golfing 14.5 hours, covering 36 miles in the process of getting in nine rounds and 162 holes Wednesday, the last place anyone would have expected Bridgeport’s Jimmy Stemple to be Thursday morning was on the golf course.

 

Yet, there he was. Crazy again?

 

In this case, Stemple was not on a mission to see if he could top the mission of trying to raise up to $20,000 or more for the United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties. Rather, it was much simpler than that.

 

“My oldest son was in a golf clinic. I love watching him play,” said Stemple. “After dropping him off, I got an IV infusion, and then went back to (the Bridgeport Country Club). I did not touch or swing a club. I am going to take a couple of weeks off.”

 

Certainly, Stemple has earned the time away from the game. After all, not only did he accomplish just about every goal he set out when agreeing to the golf marathon that has been done in previous years by fellow city resident Christian Marsh in a different manner, but he got the ideal conditions to do it in.

 

“The weather was the big thing. We started tracking it seven days out and it was supposed to be in the mid-90s, and our plan was to start earlier,” said Stemple. “Once it shifted to the low 80s, we decided to start at 5 a.m.”

 

The temperature was not the only positive. The forecast lived up to its prediction of essentially zero chance of rain.

 

“We got a good start in the dark and played the first seven holes with glow balls and sticks,” said Stemple. “I knew based on the weather and how my body felt good I had a chance at covering more than 26.2 miles.”

 

He cruised past the mileage mark, which is a marathon total, and managed to run the most miles he has ever done in a single goal. Along the way, he managed to meet another goal – keeping his body relatively healthy.

 

“After the seventh round I was still feeling pretty good, but then my legs started going out in the final two rounds. It was a bit of a struggle to finish,” he said. “I was motivated hearing I got some big donations (Wednesday) and that kept me going the last few miles. That is a credit to the community to reach out to the United Way, which is why we did what we did.”

 

Stemple said when he finished people were telling him to sit down and relax. However, he said he was too excited.

“I actually felt pretty good,” said Stemple. “It must have been the adrenaline, but I felt in (the next) morning.”

 

The next morning, however, was a different story. His legs, hamstrings, and back were all points of discomfort as were blisters on his feet.

 

“Getting out of bed was rough. I walked down the stairs like a 3-year-old does and have been icing my legs and back,” said Stemple. “Getting the IV infusion (at Rejuvenation Med Spa) was a big help, but I’m going to feel this for a few days. I’m happy I got out of this healthy because that was a real concern.”

 

About the only goal not reached was to top $20,000 in donations. As of this article, Stemple said the total was just under $19,000.

 

As for next year, he has not made an official decision. At 46 years of age, however, he knows it is taxing on his body.

 

“Whatever I do, I want to make sure to thank those for putting it together this year and I want to thank my family for their support and those who out to support me either at the after event or by watching me play and riding along watching in the golf cart,” said Stemple. “It’s wonderful to help a great organization like United Way and it has increased by awareness of what they do and also how people still care about our community.”

 

If you would like to donate, click HERE. 

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Joe LaRocca.