At 80, even with Parkinson's, Gentile wasn't going to give up the game he loved. And it has paid off in more ways than one. The tournament was started by John Leonard of Houston. Leonard, an avid golfer diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1989 who started the Houston Area Parkinson's Society Golf League in 1993 so that golfers with the disease could continue playing the game. During the annual tournament, golfers from around the world use rules formatted by Leonard.
Golfers pick their best score during the two-month period and send it to league officials.
Gentile, who finished with a 76, played at Rolling Hills Golf Course and Horseshoe Lake. He found out only recently that he had won. Gentile was diagnosed with Parkinson's 11 years ago. Parkinson's is a degenerative brain disease that is characterized by shaking and difficulty with walking, movement and coordination. It affects two out of 1,000 people, most over the age of 50.