Twelve years ago Alan Power had a heart transplant. Now, he is a gold medal winner in golf for New Zealand.

The Waikanae Golf Club member snared gold at the World Transplant Games in Mar Del Plata, Argentina last month.

Power held off 11 others to win the 60-69 year-old age bracket.

It was Power’s sixth Games since having a heart transplant in 2003. He won doubles tennis gold in Bangkok in 2007 and bronze in golf in Durban two years ago, but this was his first individual gold medal.

He said he was delighted with his win.

“I went with the idea it’d be the ultimate to win gold. They are world championships and to win gold at a world championships is a bit of an honour.”

The Club Mar Del Plata course was longer than Power is used to – 6000 metres compared to 5400 at the Waikanae club.

“I think it might have worked to my advantage,” he said.

“Eight of the 12 in my age bracket failed to break 100.”

Power played in his tracksuit and thermals because the weather in the Argentinian city was cold and windy, and competitors walked to each hole because golf carts are not generally used on the course.

Power teed off relatively early, playing mostly down the middle.

He parred seven holes, including the longest on the course, but he said he was worried a triple-bogey on the 17th hole would cost him.

“I was anxiously watching the computer screen as the results came in,” he said.

In the end, his gross score of 90 and net score of 72 was enough to win gold.

Power was born with a congenital heart condition which left him with an enlarged heart.

He suffered from infective endocarditis, or a virus entering the bloodstream, at 24, and then his heart failed in his mid-40s.

Following the tournament Power and wife Sheryl, who is also the New Zealand team’s manager, went on a three-week tour of South America before arriving back in Kapiti on Tuesday.

The 20th World Transplant Games saw athletes from 44 countries compete across 15 sports. Any athlete who has had an organ transplant is eligible to compete.

At the games New Zealand won three gold medals, and seven medals overall.

via Waikanae Golf Club member Alan Power wins gold medal at World Transplant Games | Stuff.co.nz.