NEW PORT RICHEY—Matthew Ross, the 16-year old autistic golfer that has struggled for so long for his place in the game, couldn’t stop smiling Saturday evening. He’s earned the right to live his dream.

Matthew shot 56 on Friday and 47 on Saturday at Fox Hollow Golf Club to finish 11th and qualify for the Mitchell High boys golf team, a stirring achievement for someone who for his entire life has lived with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism that affects concentration and for years prevented him from keeping his own score.

“It’s amazing,” said Matthew’s mother, Sue. “People don’t understand how much he’s been through, how tough it’s been for him. So many people have said all he would ever do is play in the Special Olympics.”

Matthew improved six shots from last year’s early rounds of qualifying just to make the 16-player finals at Fox Hollow. His final-round 47 included no score higher than a six for any hole.

Coach Rick Hyatt, who had originally planned to take just 10 players for the team, made the exception after seeing how much Matthew had improved. There were 11 players on last year’s squad and all of them returned to qualify this year, making the achievement even more remarkable.

Matthew will continue to play Special Olympics tournaments over the next three months, but wants to compete in at least one prep match this year. The Mitchell squad is one of the deepest in the county and a perennial force in conference and district play.