J.J. Konstant

Biography

J.J. Konstant was a United States Marine Infantry Officer from July of 2004 until October of 2007. While assigned to the Second Battalion of the Third Marine Regiment, he served as a rifle platoon commander along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border in 2005 where he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat and a Bronze Star with Valor Device for heroism. J.J. also served as a mobile assault platoon commander in Iraq and was awarded his second Purple Heart for wounds sustained on November 9, 2006. He left Iraq in April of 2007 and completed his commitment to the Marine Corps as Third Marine Regimental headquarters company executive officer. Other awards he has received include the: the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of a second award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star in lieu of second award.

Dave Stevens

Biography

Dave was born in 1966 without legs, later he attended Wickenburg High School in Arizona where he was a 3 sport athlete (Football, Baseball, Wrestling). While in HS Dave set 3 Arizona State Records, most takedowns in a single wrestling season (118), most career Baseball Walks (96) previously held by Bob Horner, and also the Season Record for Walks (46).

After High School Dave went on to attend Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN where he was a varsity letterman in Football from 87-90. He was also a varsity letterman in Baseball in 87, in which his team went to the Division III national tournament. Below are a few of Dave's accomplishments...

Winner of 7 Emmy Awards-For Contributions to many ESPN shows such as Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter & Sunday NFL Countdown
Played for the St. Paul Saints (picture) Minor League Independent Team in 1996: 2nd Base and was teammates with Darryl Strawberry and Jack Morris.
Team USA All Star Football Tour 1993 as Nose Guard, Team went 3-0 vs Irish Professional Team
NFL Free Agent Tryout Dallas Cowboy's 1991
Augsburg Grid Iron Tour to New Zealand/Australia 1998 as Nose Guard, the Tam went 3-0 vs New Zealand/Australian Professional Teams
1984, 1985 Cincinnati Reds Tryout
1983 Minnesota Twins Tryout

Dave currently works for ESPN as the Assignment Desk Manager where his team is responsible for coordinating coverage for all Sports Teams in the United States. Dave has been featured in dozens of Magazines/Newspapers/Television: That's Incredible, ABC Sports, NBC Today Show, CBS This Morning, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, National Enquirer, Reader's Digest, Extra, Entertainment Tonight and This Week in Baseball.

Brian Frasure

Biography

Brian Frasure is one of the best in the world and can prove it though his collection of numerous gold and silver medals won over the last decade in the long jump, 100m and 200m events. But he is far from done. He has his eyes set on China and current world record holder in the 100m, Marlon Shirley.

Frasure has been competitive ever since his prosthetist introduced him to the Paralympics and fit him with a Flex-Foot® Flex-Sprint™ from Ossur. He is a major contender for breaking the 11-second barrier in the 100m event. A couple years ago Brian had a goal of attending the 2004 Paralympic Games and returning home to Cary, NC with a Paralympic gold medal, not only did he make his goal a reality, he set out and did it again this year in the 2006 Paralympic Challenge.

Frasure has always demonstrated exceptional talent and skill in track and field. Even before competing in disabled sports, he was an outstanding able-bodied collegiate sprinter. At the age of 19, he lost his leg playing a dangerous game with friends. Hopping freight cars with college pals from North Carolina State University he misjudged a car's speed and suffered the loss of his left leg below the knee and all the toes on his right foot.

Today, Frasure works as a Regional Clinical Prosthetist at Ossur traveling over 100,000 miles a year while maintaining a rigorous training schedule that keeps him at the top of his game.

Bob Dean

Biography

"I play to win" says Bob Dean. "I've always thought that way." It takes just that kind of hunger plus equal measures of dedication and love of the sport to become a championship golfer, and to sustain that status for eight years. In Dean's case, it also takes a Flex-Foot® Ceterus® prosthetic foot and a Mauch® XG™ knee from Ossur.

Dean lost his left leg above the knee in a motorcycle accident at age 19, but that didn't slow him down in any area of his life. He made Vice President in his corporate profession at age 39, and then struck out on his own as a consultant in the computer industry. A horse farmer, too, he runs a 250-acre spread in Massachusetts and has actually has become more physically active, taking on small one man construction projects as well as maintaining his own properties.

Hooked on the idea of playing golf as an amputee, after reading a magazine article on the subject, Dean started out playing for pleasure. Although he did not play golf prior to losing his leg, his active competitive nature drove him onto the tournament circuit and to the sport where he has found success and personal satisfaction. Bob has been competing in golf tournaments with impressive wins for over 11 years. In the 1995 Eastern Regional Golf Tournament, his first major competition, he beat several top competitors and took second place.

Dave Leeka

Biography

Over 35 yrs ago Dave Leeka served in the Vietnam War with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. He was 2nd Platoon Radioman when he tripped on a booby-trapped mortar round, resulting in the loss of his left leg above the knee.

After losing his leg, Dave wore a wooden leg belted on around the waist. Since then, technology has come a long way and has helped Dave make his personal mission to walk as naturally as possible, a reality. He currently wears Ossur's RHEO KNEE® and Ceterus® Foot. The Ceterus Foot offers exceptional energy return and gives Dave the rotation he needs, especially when he's out on the golf course. The RHEO KNEE is a part of the Bionic Technology line Ossur has developed. This knee automatically adapts to his personal walking style and continues to learn the way he walks through a microprocessor which utilizes the power of Artificial Intelligence. The RHEO KNEE has made everything he wants to do possible. According to Dave, "The RHEO KNEE is simply the greatest thing I've seen in 35 years as an amputee. Now I can go a lot farther because walking doesn't take so much out of me anymore."

Prior to going to war, Dave proposed to his now current wife. The 58 year old Vietnam Vet served in the Marine Corps from 1969-1971 and in 1971 after retiring from the Marines on disability he came home from Vietnam to wed his wife. After 37 years of marriage, Dave has 3 daughters, 3 son-in-laws, and 2 beautiful grandchildren.

Following serving his country, he used his GI bill benefits to go back to school and earn his Bachelors and Masters Degree from Indiana University. By means of this accomplishment, Dave went on to work in various administrative positions at Purdue University for 19 years until he was offered a position with Florida State University in 1997. He welcomed the challenge and moved to Tallahassee, FL to become the current Director of Business Services. With a career at FSU that has spanned over 10 years, Dave looks forward to retiring next year, 2009, to enjoy more leisure time with his family and doing what he loves to do: golfing, swimming, weightlifting, and handgun target shooting.

Photo Gallery

Photos of Previous Golf Classic Competitors

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