Dr. Angela O’Rourke: It seems like a small feat, but the world’s No. 1 blind female golfer’s recent round at Painted Mountain Golf Club in Mesa was big on several fronts.

“I haven’t done much in the past six months because I’ve been fighting stomach cancer,’’ said O’Rourke, a part-time Mesa resident who summers in Canada on the Six Nations Reservation near Toronto.

“The good news is, I’m finally cancer-free, so I can finally play golf again and perhaps break a few records.’’

O’Rourke is an amazing story. A Mohawk Indian by birth, she earned doctorate degrees in education and counseling while serving 20 years in the U.S. Army, where she rose to the level of colonel. After serving in the first Gulf War, she was critically injured in a car wreck in 1991. Not only did she lose her sight, she broke her foot, leg, knee, jaw and hip in 14 places. She also had two vetrabraes removed, and suffered damage to 55 percent of her brain.

“I don’t remember anything for the two and a half years that followed,’’ she said. “That was actually a blessing, because I don’t remember the pain. Then I started all over again just like a baby, learning everything . . . walking, talking, eating.’’

She took up golf in 1998 at the urging of a friend, who drove her to a golf course and wouldn’t let her leave until she hit at least one good shot. “I thought golf was a dumb game,’’ O’Rourke admitted. “Then I hit a 5-iron 150 yards on the sweet spot, and it was instant addiction. I felt like I was living life again.’’

In 1999, she joined the U.S. Women’s Challenge Tour, a minitour based in Phoenix. Even though she couldn’t compete against the best players, O’Rourke made steady progress with the aid of a caddie, as she whittled her handicap down to a 27, and recorded the lowest score ever for a blind woman, a 90.

“Putting is my strength, because when I played on the Challenge Tour, I averaged 1.69 and 1.72 putts (per hole) for the two years,’’ said O’Rourke, 54. “I like to compete, which is why I hold world records for blind female golfers for 18 holes (90), 36 holes (182) and 54 holes (305).’’

Despite losing 50 pounds in her most recent bout with cancer, O’Rourke said, “I’m driving the ball farther than I ever have.’’ Now, she just needs to find a few more caddie-coaches to work with her because she plans to start playing full-time again when she returns to Mesa in the fall.

“When I set U.S., Canadian and world records, it’s really ‘we’ set records, because I only play well when I have a caddie-coach who can really read greens,’’ she said. “So I’m always looking for caddie-coaches, because I tend to wear them out. You know, they have a life, too.’’

Among her many accomplishments, “Dr. O’’ (“It’s easier and friendlier to say than O’Rourke, which is my husband’s name.’’) has written a book -- “Visions of a Rainbow Through the Eye of a Blind Woman’’ -- and serves as an inspirational speaker for schools and businesses. She also founded Angel’s Blind Golf Foundation in the U.S. and Disabled Angels International Foundation in Canada.

On her game: “My handicap is 36 right now, and that’s a little high. At the same time, there probably are not 10 blind people in the world that could shoot under 120.’’

Speaking frankly: “Phil Blackwell is the world’s No. 1 blind golfer, and I’ve beaten him a couple of times even if he has beaten me a lot more.’’

NOTEWORTHY

Moving up: The Arizona State men’s team has jumped from 17th to 12th in the recent college coaches poll. The Sun Devils were selected earlier this week as the No. 4 seed for the NCAA West Regional at Stanford, which is set for May 19-21.

Winners: Ken Kellaney, Bob Martin and Rudy Beruman captured last week’s MV3 Invitational in a scorecard playoff. Jim Call, Rich Stokes and Bill Swed won the senior division, and Ron Slocum, Art Kleppen and Gary Giglio the Legends.

Qualifying: The 14th annual Heather Farr Matches will be held June 28-29 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. Qualifying for the pro and amateur teams is June 7 at Grayhawk. For information, call (480) 443-9002.

Final thought: The Golf Channel will broadcast the final three rounds of the NCAA Women’s Championship on May 18-20 from Sun River, Ore., beginning at 10 p.m. each night. The NCAA Men’s Championship at Owing Mills, Md., will air June 2-4 beginning at noon each day.